Toddlers are now reaching for tablets as much as tambourines when it comes to music-making. According to Youth Music's Sound of the Next Generation (SONG) report, nearly half (48%) of pre-schoolers that are currently making music are doing so on phones and tablets.
The research, commissioned to mark Youth Music's 25th anniversary, explores young people's relationship with music. It found that the music-making habits of the youngest of our society (0- to 5-year-olds) are shifting away from more traditional forms and moving rapidly towards digital methods, due to barriers to access and increasing digital opportunities. Rapid changes in technology over the past six years have changed perceptions around what it means to be a musician, with over 75% of young people believing you don't have to play an instrument to be a musician.
More than ever, the early years age-group is adopting forms of music-making that are more reflective of the digital age, with a variety of apps already in use by music education professionals, such as:
- Bloom, where budding musicians can create unique melodies by simply tapping the screen
- Trope, the app in which ever-evolving soundscapes are made through tracing abstract shapes onto a screen
- Singing Fingers, where toddlers can paint with sound.
The prevalence of these apps shows the digital-first approach to music-making that is being adopted by parents and children. Our research further proves the impact of music on their children during their formative years, as 89% of parents believe that music will help their child's development and 90% say that enjoying music together is an important way to bond with their child.
However, there is a lack of confidence in the ability of schools to meet young people's musical needs, with only 11% of parents feeling their child will get enough musical education when they're at school.
The report also found that 26% of parents of children of primary-school age thought that children and young people do not have equal access to music, due to factors such as location and financial barriers. With the soaring prices of traditional instruments, many parents are unable to afford these astronomical costs, meaning that their children are missing out on the opportunity to explore music as they develop.
In addition, in recent months there has been an escalating conversation in the media surrounding mobile phone usage for children, with the UK government issuing guidance to schools to prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day. Some European countries, such as the Netherlands and Italy, ban the use of phones in schools completely.
While Youth Music recognises and echoes concerns around safeguarding and screen time, we also think it's important to listen to the youngest members of our society, who are ultimately the ones affected by any proposed restrictions.
Further to this, and taking our research into consideration, we believe that the safe use of devices will help young people explore creativity and music-making, without the financial commitments of paying for expensive instruments and lessons.
It's important to note that it is not a case of either/or, since it is possible for technology to sit in harmony alongside more traditional methods of music-making. The key is to find a balance by incorporating digital teaching methods with traditional music education to ultimately equalise access to music for young people by removing the financial barriers associated with traditional instruments.
We now have an exciting opportunity to listen and act in their best interests by embracing new, alternative and accessible digital methods of music education. We hope to see more educational settings embracing this technology and allowing early years children to excel in music in all its forms.
