The Effects of Music on the Learning Process Essay example

There has been extensive research focusing on the various types and attributes of music, and on the types of participants that researchers have studied. Dobbs, Furnham, & McClelland (2010) found that music can be distracting to a person when they are trying to study for an important exam. There has also been research that found that when the therapeutic values of music are applied to those suffering from pain or disease, that music is very beneficial as it releases endorphins and chemicals in the brain that

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

Throughout history music has played an important role in society, whether it was Mozart moving people with his newest opera or the latest album from the Beatles. Where would society be today without music? With schools cutting their music programs, the next Mozart may not get his chance to discover his amazing talent. Music programs are essential to education. To fully understand this one must understand how music helps the human body, why schools have cut music programs, and why people should learn music.

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

* ““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).

A big controversy of our generation today is concerning of a topic that many of us praise and could not live without. In fact, spin.com claims that the average American listens to four hours of music each day. So is music effective or hurtful to our studying? This may be an eternal topic for we don’t truly have one answer. In numerous ways listening to music is beneficial, belie some studies have come to find out it can also be harmful. Students should be given the option to listen to music in class, but whether they choose to take upon this privilege or not is up to them.

It can be proven, through literary research and personal experiences, that music has a positive effect on learning and memory. It can be concluded that these positive effects have an impact on patients with Alzheimer’s, on the motor skills and auditory memory of mentally disabled children, on students attempting to remember subject manner that they are learning, and on the affectivity of advertisements. On a personal note, music has facilitated my ability to remember things, both positive and negative, a number of times. For example, in high school I memorized the days of the week in French by singing them along with a tune that was already familiar to me. I have also had multiple experiences in which I remember things that I do not want

Scientists have established the existence of strong links between music and personal development. They claim that playing an instrument can increase the student’s sense of achievement, self-esteem, confidence; persistence, punctuality and discipline (Gardiner et al. 1996)

Music helps students stay on task and keeps them focused. “Melodious sounds help encourage the release of Dopamine, a “Feel Good” neurotransmitter in the reward area of the brain as would eating a delicacy.” Stated Dr. Amit Sood. Many studies have been concluded with results that when students listen to music they improve in their overall functions.

Studying, is an absolute bore. Most high school students would agree with this statement. However, it is true. For most students studying is one of the hardest things to accomplish in a single setting. They get distracted and can’t focus without something getting their attention. That’s where music comes in. This essay will explain how music can help the average student make exceedingly un-average test scores. It will explain the Mozart effect, the ignorance effect, and the science behind the “Musical studies”.

Music affects the amplitude and frequency of brain waves. Music can create a highly focused learning state which vocabulary and reading material is absorbed at a great rate (Education.jhu 2016). Students who received music instruction had improved sound discrimination and fine motor tasks and brain imaging. When information is put into rhythm and rhyme, these musical elements provide a hook for recall and gives a better remembrance of data(Cerebremente 2016).

The mind is greatly impacted by music by showing healthful changes (www.bellaonline.com/articles/). Doctors now use music for their patients’ treatments in order to help them stay healthy (www.bellaonline.com/articles/). Heart patients acquired the same benefits from listening to classical music for thirty minutes as they did from anti-anxiety medication (www.bellaonline.com/articles/). Musical therapy has been used to help people with heart problems, which worked quite effectively. (www.bellaonline.com/articles/). People who have had migraines frequently, were trained to use music and relaxing procedures to reduce their headaches. Studies have also shown that music helps students with their intelligence levels (www.bellaonline.com/articles/). A majority of students had higher test scores than others because they listened to Mozart before their exam. People who listened to classical music for an hour and a half while revising manuscripts increased their accuracy by 21% (www.bellaonline.com/articles) (Mish 725.).

The article “The effects of music on achievement, attitude and retention in primary school English lessons” by Koksal, Yagisan, and Cekic show the impact music has in the classroom. The Article claims “best learning environment is one that includes music” (Köksal, et al. 1897). Meaning music activates different parts of the brain that coincide with memory. Through an experimental study mentioned in the article shows music has a “increased achievement in English vocabulary learning” (Köksal, et al. 1899). Memory channels are activated and students are able to retain what is being taught through the use of music. Therefore the article suggests music is a method that can be used in primary schools to exercise the mind helping students hold onto what they learn for longer periods of time. The authors argue music brings out a different level of intelligence in the classroom. However the article fails to briefly describe traditional methods, other possible methods, and possible defaults of a music learning environment jeopardizing a overall well conducted study of music used as a source of education.

In school all across America we focus on remembering the facts, remember this, read this, and listen to this PowerPoint. The education system needs to shape young minds and teach instead of forcing knowledge upon them. Brains of young children are like a water balloon, it has room to expand for knowledge although, if you fill it to fast water will erupt or leak. Americans move fast, we believe the faster we go the further we will succeed. Despite these beliefs this does not work for students, to fast and to much water in their balloon will make it pop. All students are different, and have a different style of learning. There are a total of 7 different categories that all students fall under for learning they include visual, aural, verbal, physical, logical, social, and solitary (Lepi). As a result some students learn by working this groups, or using a song to remember material for an upcoming test. Others may like to see graphs to compare; and some comprehend chemistry better from seeing and studying a model of water. As a result of this diversity it is hard for many students to sit through a power point with facts to fully understand what they are learning. A study was performed using “Academic music” at Hoover elementary school in California. After 6 weeks of the technic of learning using music the students scored 50% higher on a fraction test then students at the same score using

In recent years it’s become noticeable that students are using all different forms of music to help them while studying or doing homework. When listening to music one may notice how that person may tap their foot or drum their fingers, even though they appear to be focused on the task in front of them. The rhythm of the piece, whether it is fast or slow, causes the listener’s heartbeat to synch with it (How Music Affects Our Mood, 2014). The question however is which music to listen to. In some studies, test subjects show that the louder the music the more distracted the subjects became (Manthei, 2014). Doctor Emma Gray, a clinical psychologist in Britain, says, “If you choose the right music for the topic you are