Open Letter to Parents of Young ChildrenTo those of you with children under the age of ten, do you want your child to succeed in life? To excel in whatever career path they choose? Introducing your child to the world of music can benefit them in numerous ways. Instrumentation is a skill that people all over the world can learn and use in their daily lives. Your child can also learn to read and play an instrument. Recent research states that the brain does not fully develop before the age of 25 (Aamodt, 2011), so if this is something your child is interested in incorporating into their life, it is best to start at a young age. Children who learn to play an instrument at a young age strengthen their brain development, score higher on standardized tests, and outperform the average student in disciplinary actions. Every parent wants only the best for their child, and it's safe to assume you want that too. It is essential that all young children have healthy brain development. After birth they begin to get used to the sounds and words around them, so they have to learn what those sounds are and what they mean. Music education can help improve these skills. By involving your child in music education, you could help increase their neural activity. Research has shown that those who take music education courses have higher neural activity than those who do not take music education courses (Brown, 2012). From my personal experience and that of my friends and acquaintances who play an instrument, playing an instrument requires a lot of attention and concentration and requires more brain power. Segments of the brain such as the auditory cortex, visual cortex, parietal lobe, and motor cortex all help the performer regulate their performance... center of paper...yAamodt, S. (Performer) (2011) The Brain maturity extends well beyond adolescence. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2014, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=141164708Alleyne, R. (2009, October 27). Playing a musical instrument makes you smarter. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6447588/Playing-a-musical-instrument-makes-you-brainier.htmlBrown, L. (20 September 2012). The benefits of music education. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-benefits-of-music-education/Estrella, E. (2005, September 25). The benefits of music education. Retrieved from http://musiced.about.com/od/beginnersguide/a/pinst.htmFick, S., & Shilts, E. (2006, January 1). This is your brain on music. Retrieved from http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/jf06/alacarte.asp