This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of whether or not every child should be taught to play a musical instrument.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Education
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.
Analysis
1. Many teachers feel that learning to play a musical instrument is an indispensable part of a student’s education. 2. In my opinion, there are socioeconomic concerns with this tenet but it is still advisable overall.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Detractors can easily argue not every child has access to the supportive environment required to learn an instrument. 2. Firstly, a family might not have enough money if a child wants to learn piano or buy a quality guitar. 3. There are also related expenses that include the fees for private lessons and other equipment. 4. Added to this, they will need their parents to have enough time to drive them to and from rehearsals and recitals. 5. 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. 6. All these factors affect underprivileged children and place them at a decided disadvantage.
- Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
- Begin to develop your main idea.
- Use a real or hypothetical example.
- Add more detail to fully support your main idea.
- Don’t switch to a new main idea.
- Finish with a summary.
1. Nonetheless, the above issues can be mitigated with more funding for schools and the developmental benefits of music outweigh all other concerns. 2. Research has shown that in early development, physical changes take place in the brains of both children and adolescents. 3. 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. 4. Apart from the scientific grounding, it also common sense that children will feel more fulfilled and derive a lot of joy from playing music. 5. This can provide a boost to not only academics but also their long-term mental well-being.
- Write another topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Use research to support your idea.
- Develop the research.
- Add in more detail if possible.
- Conclude with a strong statement.
1. In conclusion, though policymakers will have to account for accessibility issues, learning an instrument is key for neurodevelopment. 2. Schools, parents, and teachers should work together to ensure the best chances of success.
- Repeat your opinion and summarise your main ideas.
- Add a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
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.
Answers
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
Pronunciation
ˌɪndɪsˈpɛnsəbl
ˌsəʊsɪəʊˌɛkəˈnɒmɪk kənˈsɜːnz
ˈtiːnɛt
ədˈvaɪzəbl ˈəʊvərɔːl
dɪˈtræktəz
ˈiːzɪli ˈɑːgjuː
ˈæksɛs tuː
səˈpɔːtɪv ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt rɪˈkwaɪəd
ˈfɜːstli
ˈkwɒlɪti gɪˈtɑː
rɪˈleɪtɪd ɪksˈpɛnsɪz
fiːz
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈlɛsnz
ˈʌðər ɪˈkwɪpmənt
ˈædɪd tuː ðɪs
rɪˈhɜːsəlz
rɪˈsaɪtlz
ɪnˈtaɪə ˈfæmɪli
kənˈtɛnʃəs
ʃeəz ðeə ruːm wɪð
ˈfæktəz
ˌʌndəˈprɪvɪlɪʤd ˈʧɪldrən
pleɪs ðɛm æt ə dɪˈsaɪdɪd ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪʤ
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈmɪtɪgeɪtɪd
ˈfʌndɪŋ
dɪˌvɛləpˈmɛntl ˈbɛnɪfɪts
aʊtˈweɪ ɔːl ˈʌðə kənˈsɜːnz
ɪn ˈɜːli dɪˈvɛləpmənt
teɪk pleɪs
ˌædəʊˈlɛsnts
rɪˈleɪt tuː
teɪk ʌp
kwɪt
ˈdɛmənstreɪtɪd ɪmˈpruːvd ˈkɒgnɪtɪv ˌflɛksɪˈbɪlɪti
ˌlɒnʤɪˈtjuːdɪnl ˈstʌdiz
ˈkʌlʧərəl ˈbækgraʊndz
əˈpɑːt frɒm
ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk ˈgraʊndɪŋ
fiːl mɔː fʊlˈfɪld
dɪˈraɪv
prəˈvaɪd ə buːst
nɒt ˈəʊnli
bʌt ˈɔːlsəʊ
ˈlɒŋtɜːm ˈmɛntl wɛl-ˈbiːɪŋ
policymakers
əˈkaʊnt fɔːr əkˌsɛsɪˈbɪlɪti ˈɪʃuːz
kiː
neurodevelopment
wɜːk təˈgɛðə
ɪnˈʃʊə
bɛst ˈʧɑːnsɪz ɒv səkˈsɛs
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many teachers feel that learning to play a musical instrument is an i_________________e part of a student’s education. In my opinion, there are s_____________________s with this t_______t but it is still a__________________l.
D_______________s can e____________e not every child has a___________o the s___________________________________d to learn an instrument. F__________y, a family might not have enough money if a child wants to learn piano or buy a q_______________r. There are also r________________s that include the f____s for p_________________s and o_________________t. A_________________s, they will need their parents to have enough time to drive them to and from r______________s and r____________s. At home, the e______________y will have to listen to them practice and this could be c______________s if there are a lot of people living in one home or a child s_______________________h siblings or relatives. All these f__________s affect u__________________________n and p_______________________________________e.
N____________________s, the above issues can be m______________d with more f____________g for schools and the d_______________________s of music o____________________________s. Research has shown that i_____________________________t, physical changes t____________e in the brains of both children and a_________________s. Some of these r__________o music and children who t__________p an instrument, even if they q____t later, have d__________________________________________y and creativity in l_______________________s across a variety of c____________________s. A____________m the s_____________________g, it also common sense that children will f____________________d and d_________e a lot of joy from playing music. This can p________________t to n_____________y academics b__________o their l________________________________g.
In conclusion, though p__________________s will have to a_____________________________s, learning an instrument is k___y for n____________________________t. Schools, parents, and teachers should w_________________________r to e_____________e the b________________________s.
Listening Practice
Listen about this topic below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng
Reading Practice
Do some extra reading on this topic below as well:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/08/19/making-music-from-the-mets-forgotten-treasures
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Music
- Do you like music?
- Which types of music do you like?
- Would you like to learn a musical instrument?
- Do you prefer listening to music by yourself or with someone else?
Writing Practice
Write about the following related topic then check with my sample answer below:
Many people believe that music is just a form of entertainment, whilst others believe that music has a much larger impact on society today.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Wow Thinks a lot
I think that inclusion in education /school programs music lessons are necessary because, firstly, to learn playing musical instruments takes a lot of time, secondly, child maybe is not interested in it.
Pupils spend heaps of time learning how to play musical instruments, instead of studying such important subjects as chemistry, physics and grammar etc. To support this opinion/argument/view, children will spend the majority of their time on music, thus, they will be tired and have no time for the above mentioned subjects.
Moreover, not all children are interested in music. Inclusion music lessons in school programs in obligatory form will have negative consequence /results such as dislike, stress recording to the music.
In conclusion, in my opinion, music lessons should not be an obligatory part of education/school programs because playing musical instruments takes a lot of time and maybe not all children are not interested in it.
Good ideas, Lola!
Try to copy the strucutre – sentence by sentence – from my sample answer.
Your writing should be a bit longer, especially each individual paragraph.
Thanks Dave! 🙂
Many teachers are of the opinion that learning to play a musical instrument should be an indispensable part of children’s education. I personally disagree with this idea as it can be impractical for children with economically disadvantaged conditions and wreak havoc on their health and academic performance.
The argument in favor of encouraging children to take up a musical instrument is based on scientific research. First, studies have shown that both physical and mental changes often take place in the brains of individuals at the early stages of their lives. This means that learning how to play an instrument at an early age is likely to facilitate improvements in individuals’ cognitive and creative development. Second, spending numerous hours trying to excel at playing an instrument among children can not only teach them the values of hard work and perseverance but also instill in them a sense of fulfillment. This possibly is of enormous use for both their academics and long-term mental well-being.
Nonetheless, I claim that learning to play an instrument at an early age may impose unnecessary burdens on children. The truth is that children nowadays already suffer from stress because of their intense academic pressure. This indicates that if forced to learn musical lessons, chances are they may be overwhelmed, potentially hurting both their health and academic performance. This may also lead to them harboring resentment towards their teachers or parents, possibly resulting in them either neglecting their studies or, in extreme cases, dropping out of school. Furthermore, a family might not have enough money to afford a musical instrument such as a piano or a high-quality guitar. The expenses also include private lessons and other equipment, which appear prohibitively expensive for many, especially the underprivileged.
In conclusion, despite the undeniable benefits, I am strongly convinced that children should not be educated to play a musical instrument as it imposes both financial and mental burdens for them.
Nice work again, Mike!
Really good topic sentences – simple and clear. You also link your ideas really well in your paragraphs – students can learn a lot from this example of yours!