The Importance Of Evidence Supporting Music In Schools

* ““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).

In the article Superintendents Speak up for Music Education by Karen Cross, it was all about how the superintendents in four different districts viewed the music program. The four districts that they focused on were Fort Bend ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, Klein ISD, and Mesquite ISD. This article was more in an interview format, every superintended was asked the same question. The four of them seemed to agree on one thing, that is the importance of having a music program in the schools. When asked about some of the benefits that students attain from being in a music program, they all agreed that it helps them develop life skills. The music program can be seen as a relaxing class by many students. When using the word relaxing, I am not referring

Research has proven that a quality music education program will increase cognitive development, math, and reading skills (Made 2). As students become better at school, and start to enjoy school, they will be encouraged to go further with their education beyond high school. Students that may not have completed high school say that participation in music education is what kept them in school (Taylor 4). Music in schools goes further than some students singing in a classroom when they are eight years old. Music education is learning rhythm, timing, pitch, and tune. Learning all of these things takes skill which can be developed in music education. Their brains will develop further, allowing them to go further in school and in their

Music has elements which tie in with other school subjects such as math and history. When first learning music and the counting for each note, it can represent simple fractions that is learned in third grade math. Students can learn the different genres of music and the history behind what they love. In addition to the early exposure of basic education, music can also expand one’s knowledge in other subjects. Listening and learning music can stimulate parts of the brain that the simple reading, writing, and mathematics classes can’t. It has been said before that listening to classical music can stimulate certain neurons in the brain, which improves test scores. Overall, music can be beneficial to all aspects of

Most of the tests resulted in positive trends between music instruction and the ability to read. However, a few tests showed a negative trend. The studies were not conducted with the same numbers of children every time, and therefore, some results varied. Trends and recommendations from this meta-analysis were found.

My professor observed that his son instinctively knew that he had to end his melody on the tonic or root of the key to end the song without even realizing that he was doing so. This goes to show that kids may naturally have the ability to listen and observe music at a young age because it is all around them. I discovered an interesting article written by Phillip F. Scheme on how music improves brain function where he studied various experiments done by doctors. I’d like to point out one specific study performed by Antoine Shahin, who received his PhD in Medical Physics from McMaster University in Canada. In Phillip’s review of Shahin's studies he stated, “Shahin believes that musical training gives an individual the acoustic responsiveness of a child some 2 - 3 years older. In talking about the effect of music on the brain, he said the studies do not necessarily show that musical training leads to enhanced IQ or creativity. Shahin's main findings are that the changes triggered by listening to musical sound increase with age and the greatest increase occurs between the ages of 10 and 13”. This most likely indicates this is a sensitive period for music and speech acquisition. Phillip also was able to form a conclusion from Professor Glenn Schulenburg who teaches in the Psychology Department at the University of Toronto. Schulenburg’s investigations directly assessed if musical ability improves brain function. He found that listening to music in headphones seems to improve a person’s performance on certain cognitive tests, at least in the short run; but the actual music lessons that kids can take throughout their childhood can lead to improved memory and overall brain

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 is a psychological benefit of having music incorporated in school. The brain expands the time in which the attention of a student is engaged in the lesson. Neurophysiiological distinction is also developed during the course of a child’s learning journey, after having music instilled in the education process.

Millions of students all around the world are involved in music education, but not everyone agrees that music is important to students. Music should be a key element of every person’s life. It teaches so many useful things to everyone who is involved. Musical education is important because it teaches students valuable skills that they will use throughout their lives.

Ever since the first log was struck by man, music has been enjoyed by humans all across the world. However, in America’s society today, music and other arts are looked upon as lesser subjects, due to the fact that they do not utilize standardized achievement tests to assess the students involved. The government has put in place programs that actually undermine music programs, even though the majority of the public supports music. Music holds numerous benefits to a person, ranging from social skills to entire brain development, which verifies music as an irreplaceable part of life that connects people and provides them with means to share their creativity with others. Music provides a sense of purpose and self-confidence, an important life trait

First, music has extensive impacts on the brains of babies. Specifically, music impacts the brain development of infants and toddlers. A child’s brain grows substantially until age three by building pathways between cells called synapses. Notably, the specific synapses needed to listen to classical music are extremely similar to those used for spatial awareness. On the other hand, music improves the cognitive abilities of babies’ brains. Studies by Dr. Frances Ravscher and Gordon Shaw solidify this idea (Batema, 2012, para. 2-5). Due to its more complex harmony, instrumentation and structure, classical music prepares pathways in the brain needs for various cognitive tasks. Consequently, better pathways make for more efficient cognitive processes. Likewise, music speeds up the learning abilities in babies. Extensive studies by McMaster University (2012) discovered that one-year-old babies have better communication skills and show earlier brain responses when exposed to “interactive music classes with their parents” (Science Daily, para. 1). Similarly, research by various professionals has proven the connection between music and more effective brain processes for children under three years old.

“How many days do you go without listening to music?” For almost every person, the answer to that question is zero. That question came from the words of Celeste Labonte, a high school Chorus and music education teacher at Barrington High School. The question, although it may seem rhetorical or unimportant, actually explains the importance of music in present day culture. The world today would be nothing without music and its constant, everyday influence on all levels of society. Despite this impact throughout culture, music education funding in the United States is being drastically reduced , forcing school districts to cut music programs and classes because of the supposed lack of importance in comparison to "core classes" like math, history, and literature. In many cases, programs of the arts, especially music, are being shut down completely. Recent studies however, have shown increasing benefits with kids who are involved in music education. Research has proven that people receive better test scores and attain academic proficiency on a higher average than those that are not involved with music. The benefits are not just within test scores however, they also reside in scientific evidence that reveal increased memory, auditory, and reasoning capabilities in the brain from people who are involved in music. Despite its supposed “lack of importance” in comparison to core classes, music education programs should be required in

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 elicits an emotional and cognitive response in all who listen to it. It is powerful at the individual level because “it can induce multiple responses – physiological, movement, mood, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral” (Francis, 2008,

Music begins impacting students who are in early childhood education by teaching phonological awareness, improving math performance, increasing abstract reasoning and spatial task skills, and improving behavior (Students – Early Childhood). Students who are phonologically aware can identify and manipulate words, syllables, and rhythms. This skill allows students to identify and create rhymes, identify the number of syllables in a word or sentence by clapping, and recognize words that begin with same sound (Phonological). Phonological awareness increases a student’s ability to read, and music teaches phonological awareness in young students according to a 2002 Anvari et al. study (Students – Early Childhood). Learning these vital skills at a young age creates a solid foundation for the children as they progress into elementary school and beyond. They