When children are enjoying music together they cannot be fighting...it is a wonderful bridge and, many forms of music, particularly classical music, have a very calming effect on behavior. Music is somewhat magical in its ability to reach and teach children, enhancing learning and building enduring skills. Music Neuroscience is a burgeoning field that studies how the brain changes when children begin to learn music or play an instrument. Making music improves reading and language skills and boosts the confidence level of students, opening them to areas of life they would never otherwise experience. Child psychologists are using expressive musical therapy in child trauma cases as well, finding that children can communicate their feelings through music if not in other ways.
We have a small, but excellent music museum in our town and I enjoy taking my grandchildren to it. It has instruments of the renaissance to the modern era and examples of music from different genres of music, from jazz, to rock 'n roll, to country music and more, which the children can play. One of the fun areas of the museum is the digital wall of music from around the world where children can pick out and play recordings of music from many other cultures.
Finally there is a laboratory where the children can try out, experiment with and play instruments such as keyboard, guitar, harp and drums. The great thing is that, with headphones, they can hear what they are playing but the people around them can't so they aren't bothered by it. The children can just have all the fun they want. Who knows, maybe I have a musical genius among my grandchildren. At the very least, it makes for a fun afternoon of musical interaction and entertainment!