Ongoing History Daily: Get your kid in a band

Here’s more proof that learning to play a musical instrument will serve you well in other areas of your life.

Researchers in Australia took a look at people aged 14 to 25 who were members of bands, choirs, and orchestras. They found that participating in such group musical activities resulted in people that were tougher, more resilient, and more likely to be good team members than those who didn’t. It also improved their sense of empathy, togetherness, and understanding. They realized that they had responsibilities not just to themselves but to the other players and singers. It led to more suppression of egos and better social skills.

So why music and not something like team sports? Because playing music requires using the brain in many different ways and when things feel good, the instinctive desire is to keep chasing that feeling by engaging more in the music.

If you want your kid to have these attributes, get them music lessons and let them play in a band.