IELTS Writing Task 2: Musical Instruments
Some educators believe that every child should be taught how to play a musical instrument.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many teachers feel that learning to play a musical instrument is an indispensable part of a student’s education. In my opinion, there are socioeconomic concerns with this tenet but it is still advisable overall.
Detractors can easily argue not every child has access to the supportive environment required to learn an instrument. Firstly, a family might not have enough money if a child wants to learn piano or buy a quality guitar. There are also related expenses that include the fees for private lessons and other equipment. Added to this, they will need their parents to have enough time to drive them to and from rehearsals and recitals. At home, the entire family will have to listen to them practice and this could be contentious if there are a lot of people living in one home or a child shares their room with siblings or relatives. All these factors affect underprivileged children and place them at a decided disadvantage.
Nonetheless, the above issues can be mitigated with more funding for schools and the developmental benefits of music outweigh all other concerns. Research has shown that in early development, physical changes take place in the brains of both children and adolescents. Some of these relate to music and children who take up an instrument, even if they quit later, have demonstrated improved cognitive flexibility and creativity in longitudinal studies across a variety of cultural backgrounds. Apart from the scientific grounding, it also common sense that children will feel more fulfilled and derive a lot of joy from playing music. This can provide a boost to not only academics but also their long-term mental well-being.
In conclusion, though policymakers will have to account for accessibility issues, learning an instrument is key for neurodevelopment. Schools, parents, and teachers should work together to ensure the best chances of success.
VOCABULARY
- indispensable crucial
- socioeconomic concerns questions about class
- tenet principle
- advisable overall in general good
- detractors critics
- easily argue point out effortlessly
- access to can get to
- supportive environment required good family support
- firstly first of all
- quality guitar good guitar
- related expenses other money that must be spent
- fees cost
- private lessons one on one lessons
- other equipment other musical items
- added to this moreover
- rehearsals practicing
- recitals a mini-concert
- entire family whole family
- contentious controversial
- shares their room with live in the same room
- factors elements
- underprivileged children poor kids
- place them at a decided disadvantage definitely worse off
- nonetheless regardless
- mitigated somewhat countered by
- funding money for
- developmental benefits positive impact on how they grow up
- outweigh all other concerns more important
- in early development as kids
- take place happen
- adolescents teenagers
- relate to have to do with
- take up start
- quit stop
- demonstrated improved cognitive flexibility smarter
- longitudinal studies research over many years
- cultural backgrounds where someone comes from
- apart from besides
- scientific grounding research basis
- feel more fulfilled feel satisfied
- derive get from
- provide a boost increase
- not only … but also also includes
- long-term mental well-being mental health
- policymakers politicians
- account for accessibility issues think about providing it for all
- key important
- neurodevelopment brain development
- work together collaborate
- ensure make sure
- best chances of success will likely work out
