Keeping Music Education

Perhaps the most tangible benefit of music education for students is the increase in their performance in the classroom. People often say, “Music makes you smarter,” but where is the evidence? As South Dakota State University’s Professor Kevin Kessler eloquently stated via email, “How were you

Hicks, George. "How Playing Music Affects The Developing Brain. CommonHealth RSS. CommonHealth, 17 July 2014. Web. 04 Mar. 2016.

Flora also spoke of the life lessons and skills that being involved in a strong music program has taught her, many of which have been studied and proven (Flora). Flora reported an increase in her self-esteem and a sense of belonging after becoming a part of her school’s music program (Flora). Studies have indeed shown that the arts give children something in which to take pride, which in turn boosts self-esteem and self-confidence (Lock).

In harsh economic times, schools tend to cut music classes first. The current economic situation has not helped music classes. In an Arizona school district, the first classes cut were music classes (Rhoden). Rhoden states, “Tuesday evening, the Humboldt Unified School District Governing Board made the difficult decision to reduce the elementary music program…” When times get tough it seems to people that music is just not important enough to keep in the daily schedule. Current society puts a stress on reading and math. An article from CNN states,

Elementary schools and high schools across the U.S. have lately suffered from financial strain. Because of this, budget cuts have to be made and music programs often suffer before sports and academics. Although some people believe that music is not a key component in preparing for employment and higher education, yet several others express otherwise, who say music has been shown to stimulate other parts of a student’s mind that can help them excel. Statistics have shown that the correlation between music class and other academia is not only positive for students, but also can improve future scholastic abilities, and thus should not be cut from schools. Through the evaluation of various sources

Music can definitely make differences and can help the human’s motor and reasoning skills. Cases have been reported that children who have at least three years of experience in the music world perform better than those who are not. These children were tested on nonverbal reasoning skills which includes analyzing visual information such as comparing and contrasting shapes and patterns. Involving your skills in music does more important positive changes that you can not imagine.

* ““95% percent of Americans believe that music is a key-component in a child’s well-rounded education, 80% percent of respondents agreed that music makes the participants smarter; 78% believe that learning a musical instrument helps students perform better in other subject areas; and 88% believe participation in music helps teach children discipline” (Hurley 3),” (par 1).

Peter Greene in his article, “Stop Defending Music Education”, suggests that public schools need music for many reasons. In addition to emphasizing that public schools need music education not because it increases test scores, but for many other reasons rather than the obvious reason. Greene is surely right about people defending music education for the wrong reasons, because as he may not be aware, recent studies have

The decline in music education programs in public schools is a result of budget cuts is becoming more visible. State-level arts spending has dropped from $409 million in the fiscal year 2002 to $354.5 million in the fiscal year 2003, and declined again to $272.4 million in 2004 (“Quick Facts”). It is clearly

Music programs are constantly in danger of being cut from shrinking school budgets even though they're proven to improve academics. In May 2005 a Harris Poll showed that ninety three percent of the population agree the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for children, a two percent increase over 2001 (Catterall). This evidence shows that the people believe that these programs are indeed improving and are important to the lives of students. Along with the fact that Studies done mostly in children of young age show that their academic performance increases after a certain period of music education and training. One particular study published in the journal 'Nature' showed that when groups of first graders were given music instruction

In 2014, Marion Long conducted a study on the effects of rhythm-based music training on children’s reading ability. It was found as a result of the study that music had a profoundly positive impact on children’s ability to read. Of the students tested, after the music intervention, reading levels improved to correlate with his/her chronological age or exceeded their age

Her quote states, “The fact that children can make beautiful music is less significant than the fact that music can make beautiful children”. Cheryl spends her time creating songs and lesson plans to encourage students in musical programs. Her message is trying to convey that music improves children. She is using this statement to reach parents and administrators to convince them that music will improve their children’s abilities in other areas. This quote made her famous because so many parents desire for their children to achieve great things and be a well-rounded individual at the same time. A study throughout Los Angeles and Chicago was conducted with hundreds of students to see the affects of music on the brain. The children became socially active and began to recognize pitch faster if they had a musical background. The children were asked to tap their finger to a beat. It is known that rhythm is an important part in language. Musically inclined children had a faster response to speech sounds than non-musical children. This provides an example of how music helps children comprehend and recognize what they read at an enhanced

There’s really no reason to justify music education on any other basis than its intrinsic merits. We have our Dante, Tolstoy, and Shakespeare, and they are Bach, Duke Ellington, and Benjamin Britten” (2013). Later on in the article, Johnston says,” It could very well be that the people who took music lessons were smarter to begin with, or that something in their experience other than the music lessons was responsible for differences in intelligence” and she also says, “the idea that learning to play an instrument, read music, or sing in harmony will boost intelligence has become ingrained in modern life, but the evidence has always been pretty scant”(2013). It is also shown that the mozart effect theory was debunked scientifically, showing that you cannot enhance your spatial skills by listening to different symphonies by Mozart. Lastly, Johnston reports Ellen Winner, a professor of psychology at Boston College who studies arts education, talking about music education's place in the world now that it may be shown to not help as much is it once said it

Although many, one positive way music education is beneficial to students is that it has a large impact on brain stem growth. With the incorporation of music in a student’s daily life, the brain stem’s responses become more robust (Brown). Therefore, the amount of brain stem growth correlates with recent musical training. As stated by Brown, an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore, “student’s that are involved with a large amount of music will see more gains in brain stem growth”. Furthermore, the neural changes that occur in students as adolescents stay with them into adulthood (“Music Matters”). This allows students to be more prepared once they go into the workforce as adults. Along with the brain stem’s responses being more robust, it’s sensitivity to sound increases (“The Benefits” 1). This is abundantly evident from early on, as mother’s sing to their infants to facilitate brain stimulation and development. Enrichment through music, starting at a young age, seems to improve individuals speech sound development and use of more advanced vocabulary. Adolescents’ language also improves with the use of music in a student’s academics (Miller 46). Luehrisen

Music education can actually increase brain activity and growth. One of the major things that studying music in school can do for the brain is to increase the white and gray matter in the brain. In an article by Christopher Bergland outlining ten ways music education increases brain activity.He said this about a case studied from the Journal of Neuroscience(2015)