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the relationship between music and mathematics
the relationship between music and mathematics
effect of music to students
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Most people have been introduced to the idea that music has a positive impact on the field of education, especially in mathematics. This has been a back-and-forth battle between advocates for music and the arts in schools and those looking for ways to deal with budget cuts. Logically thinking, music is based on math in that it deals with patterns and ratios (Vaughn, 2000). Research has shown that music, both music education and simply listening to music, can benefit students. The purpose of this study is to look at how music can affect test scores in the subject of mathematics in grades kindergarten through sixth grade.
History of the Problem
The connection between music and education, especially mathematics, has been around for a long time. The ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras argued this point in the fifth century. Pythagoreans, those who followed Pythagoras, believed that music and math were so similar that they could be considered the same thing (Southgate & Roscigno, 2009).
Horace Mann is believed to be the first person to encourage that music be included in the core curriculum (Southgate & Rascigno, 2009). However, it seems like year after year, reports surface of more and more schools or educational districts that are removing arts programs due to budget cuts. When budget cuts are announced, it seems as though music programs are the first on the chopping block. But is the impact that these programs have on other areas taken into consideration? Boards of education tend to focus on test scores in reading and mathematics as marks of success or failure. But they do not focus on programs which can benefit these areas. Research has been done with this in mind, but the findings have not been con...
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...ent as needed. Students in grades 4 and 6 whose parents have given permission to participate in the study will only be given the regular scheduled basic music instruction.
Previous standardized test scores for students who are participating will be accessed for the purpose of finding a baseline. Test scores will then be compared at the end of the first school year to determine if music instruction has had a positive impact on mathematics scores. If no significant changes are found, music instructors will be given additional training to ensure that a good, quality music education is being provided to their students. These same students will then be followed for a period of two years. At the end of each year, test scores will compared. The final data will be analyzed to determine if music education can increase mathematics standardized test scores by 10 points.
In order to properly examine the level of necessity for music classes, the economic and social conditions must be explored for the following question: How can increasing musical intelligence at an early age benefit a person later in life? Ever since the recession hit America, states have cut school funding. General funding per student is lower than it was in 2008 for half of the nation’s states. In order to try and increase money availability for schools, both school districts and individual schools have taken action in the form of job cuts, which, in turn, further harm the economy.
Few would argue against the idea that we educate ourselves and our society so that we have adequate means with which to understand and interact with elements of the world around us. Subjects such as mathematics, language, history, and the hard sciences are granted immediate and unquestioned legitimacy in our schools, and with good reason. We encounter each of these elements of our lives on a daily basis. We need to have an understanding of these disciplines in order to interact with them, otherwise they are meaningless to us. I submit that the same can be said for the fundamental concepts of music. Music is something that we encounter in our society every day. It surrounds us. Indeed it would be practically impossible to escape. Like so many other naturally occurring phenomena, a discipline has been developed over centuries to help us interact with music, and that discipline is what I and those of my profession are charged with teaching.
Once this is accomplished, students gain personal pride in achieving this new skill. Music programs offer lots of chances for students to develop new talents, whether that is playing an instrument or singing a song. “Music programs in public schools help to foster a student’s sense of pride and self-confidence” (Hoffman 1), and with this newfound pride, students will develop more experience in other areas, like working with others and communicating with different people. Music plays an active role in student’s lives, and as core subject grades begin to rise, “music education remains a key component in a student’s academic success and in positive social and emotional growth” (Hoffman 1). Music forms dignity in a students abilities, offering to give the students a chance to develop their communication and social skills in a safe environment, and give themselves positive feelings about their accomplishments. Without music programs in schools, students will have less pride in their abilities and will not let them gain that safe environment to achieve these experiences with
Many people do not realize the positive effect that popular music has on children. At a young age one of the breakthroughs for children is music’s benefit for language development. According to the Children’s Music Workshop, the effect of music education on language development can be seen in the brain. Studies have indicated that musical training develops the left side of the brain known to be involved in processing language and can actually wire the brain’s circuits in specific ways. The relation between both music and language development can also have advantages children. Listening to music can also improve children test scores and IQ levels. Dr. Schellenberg found that a small increase in the IQs of six year olds who were given weekly vocal and piano lessons. This leads to the fact that music is very helpful when it comes to education. Professor Christopher Johnson revealed that students in elementary schools with better music education programs sc...
There have been many studies done to find how music influences a child’s development. The College Entrance Examination Board discovered that students who took music appreciation classes had higher verbal and math scores than those who did not take the classes. (Stephens 2003) The U.S. Department of Education found that in 25,000 secondary schools, students who were highly involved in the music program did much better in math than any other students. (Stephens 2003) These studies and more have found that involvement in music increases chi...
According to the National Association for Music Education, SAT takers with a background involving musical instruction score significantly higher than their non-musically trained counterparts; a surprising 56 points higher on the verbal portion and 39 points higher on the math portion of the test. But what is not generally controversial though, and is supported by a strong body of evidence, is the fact that ongoing music education does help children across a wide range of criteria - including overall academic performance. Other advocates of music instruction also cite numerous non-musical benefits including the building of greater self-esteem, concentration and coordination. Formal music instruction requires focus, discipline and determination; excellent qualities which are often transferred into other areas of the student's life. When research on the Mozart Effect - the theory that listening to Mozart's music can temporarily improve performance and perhaps even IQ - became popularized in the late 1950s, parents everywhere began to try and expose their children to more classical music. Brigid Finucane, an Early Childhood Music Instructor at the Merit School of Music in Chicago, has witnessed the positive effects of music instruction first-hand. Finucane says “Teachers at the sites I work at related many stories to me about how the children have progressed more deeply because of having music in the curriculum.” S...
With school budget cuts, and no music instruments, more and more people are beginning to realize the benefits of having music in education. Providing music as part of education helps develop intelligence that leads to greater success in school and in life. Everyone from VH1 Save The Music to The National Association For Music Education agree that, “Every student in the nation should have an education in the arts.” These two companies are doing everything they can to get out the information about music, and the importance of resorting music education as part of the core curriculum.
Exposer to music is crucial to young children’s brain development. Not only does it develop otherwise unused areas of the brain, like the auditory cortex, it increases children's future intellectual enjoyment level (Matter). Music at an early age enhances sensitivity to sound and pitch, which can lead to better phonological and reading skills (Moreira). Without a music program in schools students do not get the full exposure to music and music theory that is needed for brain development.
Students enrolled in music classes and lessons have higher test scores than the students who are not enrolled in these classes. Music education has a strong impact on the success of a student in the classroom. "Music majors have the highest SAT scores in all areas" (Mickela “Music and Student Development”). Th...
Much too often in America today, modern music and art programs in schools are perceived to many as extracurricular activities rather than important subjects that are vital to a students learning and skill development. The truth of the matter is that encouraging music and art education in public schools has a much larger impact on student’s grades, academic performance, and the economy than the majority people realize. Within the next year city school budgets will be dropping by twenty five percent, and despite the fact that music and art programs have been showing a dramatic contribution to student’s learning, this substantial drop in funding for the programs will lead to no dedicated money for art or music programs (Mezzacappa). There is no doubt that a cut in funding for art programs will take a huge toll on students overall grades and test scores. Research has found that the studying of music and art facilitates learning in other subjects and enhances children’s skills in other areas (Brown). Furthermore, providing students with a creative outlet can do great justice in reducing the stress from many other classes and even offer insight for students in possible career paths involving the art field. The art industry today currently supports 4.1 million full-time jobs (Dorfman). By increasing the funding of music and art programs for students preschool through twelfth grade we can see a dramatic increase in the education of children across the United States, assist with skill development in young students, and greatly benefit the economy at the same time.
The Importance of Arts Education Jane Alexander, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), once said, “Many children are missing out on something which gives their education context, gives their lives depth and meaning, and prepares them to be the future workforce.” This “something” that she spoke of is music and art education. Unfortunately, she is entirely correct. We are currently seeing a dramatic cut in arts education curriculum in our public schools due to the limited amount of time and funding. In many cases, budget cutbacks mean arts education cutbacks.
The position that is being argued is that music should stay in schools. This author is making the claim that music makes children excel in their education. This author uses many different sources. The author relies mainly on studies to back up his argument. The article is recent.
Even when children learn music they able to listen, sing, dance, create movement. Listening to music draw out emotions, and playing music can be just like communicating emotions. Some people find this a very powerful experience. “ Music enriches the lives of students and should be considered a necessary part of education.”
The academic benefits of music education are immense. In a study by Shirley Brice Heath, a researcher at Stanford University and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, students with at least three hours of participation in the arts, three days a week for at least a year are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement (Ford, AdamMcMahon, Maureen). Students in music excel in core subjects such as math, English, and science. In 1997, the College Board produced a study, revealing that students with at least four years of music education scored an average of 49 points higher on the verbal section of the SAT and 34 points higher of the math section (“Arts Education”). These days, this is the difference between being accepted to a college and not.
Music is one of the specials in school that can be implemented in the classroom. In kindergarten through fifth grade, music can be used in the classroom to teach students the daily classroom curriculum. There are several ways that a teacher can implement music into their classroom lessons. Some of those ways are creating songs, or finding creative songs on YouTube or other music websites. As a future educator it is my job to use a variety of teaching methods, and one of those methods should be applying music in my lessons.