Music Education Advocacy
A Fantastic Video from TED about the Benefits of Instrumental Music:
When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What's going on? Anita Collins explains the fireworks that go off in musicians' brains when they play, and examines some of the long-term positive effects of this mental workout.
Lesson by Anita Collins, animation by Sharon Colman Graham.
Click here for the full lesson from TED!
Lesson by Anita Collins, animation by Sharon Colman Graham.
Click here for the full lesson from TED!
A Collection of Great Articles:
- Why Music? Why Band? - Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser
- A collection of music education advocacy topics and articles collected by Dan Massoth.
- Forbes: High School Students Do Better In Science, Math And English If They Also Take Music Lessons. (June 25, 2019)
- "Schools are under constant pressure to make budget cuts, and music programs are often first on the chopping block. Now, an extensive study from the University of British Columbia in Canada shows that students who took music lessons in high school performed better in subjects such as English, science, and math."
- "Schools are under constant pressure to make budget cuts, and music programs are often first on the chopping block. Now, an extensive study from the University of British Columbia in Canada shows that students who took music lessons in high school performed better in subjects such as English, science, and math."
- University of British Columbia News: Music students do better in school than non-musical peers. (June 24, 2019)
- "High school students who take music courses score significantly better on math, science and English exams than their non-musical peers, according to a new study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology."
- "High school students who take music courses score significantly better on math, science and English exams than their non-musical peers, according to a new study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology."
- Wired.com: How Does Music Affect Your Brain? Every Way Imaginable! (March 16, 2019)
- "Music is an ever-present companion for many of us, and its impact is undeniable. You know music makes you move and triggers emotional responses, but how and why? What changes when you play music, rather than simply listen?"
- "Music is an ever-present companion for many of us, and its impact is undeniable. You know music makes you move and triggers emotional responses, but how and why? What changes when you play music, rather than simply listen?"
- Education Dive: NYC's only K-12 school with music as core subject sees high outcomes. (January 17, 2017)
- "Special Music School at Kaufman Center Principal Katie Banucci-Smith says the rigorous music program teaches students how to read music, listen, respond and collaborate. It creates inquiry-minded students who question, argue and think critically. The focus on music, then, serves as an asset even for traditional metrics for assessing schools."
- "Special Music School at Kaufman Center Principal Katie Banucci-Smith says the rigorous music program teaches students how to read music, listen, respond and collaborate. It creates inquiry-minded students who question, argue and think critically. The focus on music, then, serves as an asset even for traditional metrics for assessing schools."
- Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: From musician to physician: Why medical schools are recruiting for musical ability. (August 6, 2018)
- "Memorial University of Newfoundland has discovered that a musical background is a good predictor of success."
- "Memorial University of Newfoundland has discovered that a musical background is a good predictor of success."
- Didget Project: Doctors Now Prescribing Music Therapy for Heart Ailments, Brain Dysfunction, Learning Disabilities, Depression, PTSD, Alzheimers, Childhood Development and More. (March 10, 2016)
- "Music has proven time and again to be an important component of human culture. From its ceremonial origin to modern medical usage for personal motivation, concentration, and shifting mood, music is a powerful balm for the human soul. Though traditional “music therapy” encompasses a specific set of practices, the broader use of music as a therapeutic tool can be seen nowadays as doctors are found recommending music for a wide variety of conditions."
- "Music has proven time and again to be an important component of human culture. From its ceremonial origin to modern medical usage for personal motivation, concentration, and shifting mood, music is a powerful balm for the human soul. Though traditional “music therapy” encompasses a specific set of practices, the broader use of music as a therapeutic tool can be seen nowadays as doctors are found recommending music for a wide variety of conditions."
- Good News Network: Scientists Found Flute Music That Helps to Build the Brains of Premature Babies. (June 10, 2019)
- "A new study from Switzerland shows that music can do much more than soothe the senses – in fact, the research says that specially-orchestrated music can help boost the neurodevelopment of prematurely born babies."
- "A new study from Switzerland shows that music can do much more than soothe the senses – in fact, the research says that specially-orchestrated music can help boost the neurodevelopment of prematurely born babies."
- Medium.com: Music Education as a Space for Social and Emotional Learning (March 15, 2019)
- "This month, and every month, let us consider the vital role that arts education plays in a child’s development, as it pertains to each of these competencies [self-regulation, relationship skills, social awareness, self-awareness, and decision-making skills]. From the skills learned by being in choir, band, or orchestra — how to maintain focus, blend a sound with others, and continuously self-analyze one’s own contribution to the whole. To being a member of a theatre group — not only how to direct or act, but how to develop perspective, build empathy, recognize one’s own strengths, or evaluate situations."
- "This month, and every month, let us consider the vital role that arts education plays in a child’s development, as it pertains to each of these competencies [self-regulation, relationship skills, social awareness, self-awareness, and decision-making skills]. From the skills learned by being in choir, band, or orchestra — how to maintain focus, blend a sound with others, and continuously self-analyze one’s own contribution to the whole. To being a member of a theatre group — not only how to direct or act, but how to develop perspective, build empathy, recognize one’s own strengths, or evaluate situations."
- Pacific Standard Magazine: Middle School Music and Theater Students Get Better Grades (February 12, 2019)
- "New research presents the best evidence yet that taking arts classes benefits kids academically."
- "New research presents the best evidence yet that taking arts classes benefits kids academically."
- Music Education Works: Ensemble Music Programs Have Positive Effects on Character, Competence, and Caring (February 6, 2019)
- "The study found that participants showed significant increases across all 5 C’s [competence, confidence, caring, character, and connection], particularly in the areas of character, competence and caring. The study concluded that a rigorous orchestral model of music instruction offers students cognitive benefits as well as social and emotional enhancements."
- "The study found that participants showed significant increases across all 5 C’s [competence, confidence, caring, character, and connection], particularly in the areas of character, competence and caring. The study concluded that a rigorous orchestral model of music instruction offers students cognitive benefits as well as social and emotional enhancements."
- U.S. News & World Report: High School Band Classes May Boost Teen Brains (July 24, 2015)
- "Music training improves teens' hearing and language skills, a new study says. The findings suggest that music instruction can help teens do better in school, according to Northwestern University researchers."
- "Music training improves teens' hearing and language skills, a new study says. The findings suggest that music instruction can help teens do better in school, according to Northwestern University researchers."
- Inc.: The Benefits of Playing Music Help Your Brain More Than Any Other Activity (August 21, 2017)
- "Science has shown that musical training can change brain structure and function for the better. It can also improve long-term memory and lead to better brain development for those who start at a young age. Furthermore, musicians tend to be more mentally alert, according to new research from a University of Montreal study."
- "Science has shown that musical training can change brain structure and function for the better. It can also improve long-term memory and lead to better brain development for those who start at a young age. Furthermore, musicians tend to be more mentally alert, according to new research from a University of Montreal study."
- Science World Report: Children's Brain Develop Faster With Exposure To Music, Study Proves (June 15, 2015)
- "Exposure to music and music instruction accelerate the brain development of young children. The development mostly touches the part in the areas of the brain that are responsible for language development, sound, reading skill and speech perception. The study was led by the researchers from the Brain and Creativity at USC in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Associations and Heart of Los Angeles. It was a five-year study and began in 2012. It examines and analyzes the impact of music instruction on children's cognitive, emotional and social development."
- "Exposure to music and music instruction accelerate the brain development of young children. The development mostly touches the part in the areas of the brain that are responsible for language development, sound, reading skill and speech perception. The study was led by the researchers from the Brain and Creativity at USC in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Associations and Heart of Los Angeles. It was a five-year study and began in 2012. It examines and analyzes the impact of music instruction on children's cognitive, emotional and social development."
- Medical Xpress: Playing a Wind Instrument Could Help Lower the Risk of Sleep Apnea (April 16, 2015)
- "A new study has found that wind instrument players have a reduced risk of developing obstructive sleep apnoea. The findings, presented today (17 April 2015) at the Sleep and Breathing Conference 2015, suggest that this could be considered beneficial to those individuals who are at high risk of developing sleep apnoea."
- "A new study has found that wind instrument players have a reduced risk of developing obstructive sleep apnoea. The findings, presented today (17 April 2015) at the Sleep and Breathing Conference 2015, suggest that this could be considered beneficial to those individuals who are at high risk of developing sleep apnoea."
- Independent: Musicians Spot Mistakes More Quickly and More Accurately than Non-Musicians (September 30, 2013)
- "New research has shown that individuals who play an instrument are more capable at identifying errors and correcting mistakes, and that these benefits apply to amateur musicians as well as professionals."
- "New research has shown that individuals who play an instrument are more capable at identifying errors and correcting mistakes, and that these benefits apply to amateur musicians as well as professionals."
- The Washington Post: Music Lessons Spur Emotional & Behavioral Growth in Children, New Study Says (January 7, 2015)
- "Music training not only helps children develop fine motor skills, but aids emotional and behavioral maturation as well, according to a new study, one of the largest to investigate the effects of playing an instrument on brain development."
- "Music training not only helps children develop fine motor skills, but aids emotional and behavioral maturation as well, according to a new study, one of the largest to investigate the effects of playing an instrument on brain development."
- What Parents Need to Know About Children's Brains on Music
- How Music Could Make You a Rocket Scientist
- The Arts Are Essential: Cornell University's President on Why Teaching Creativity in Schools is Not a Luxury
- Fine Arts Courses Help Students Excel in Math and Science
An Awesome Infographic:
March is Music in Our Schools Month
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