Music Education: A Source For Brain Power In today’s society, people are constantly looking for new ways to have students produce more from their public education. Some argue that more funding is the answer, while others say that better learning facilities will help. Studies recently conducted show that a simple change in the curriculum will produce the outcome that people are searching for. The simple change is music education. Music education has been shown to improve general academic skills as well as social skills in children. If music classes are added to a child’s schedule, they will begin to show an increase in learning that educators are looking for. Get rid of the ideas of more funding and better facilities, all the students need is a simple music course in their everyday lives. Recent studies prove that music education is an effective way to increase the way children perform in overall academics. Jenny Yoon makes it clear in her dissertation to Biola University, that the effects of music education are only positive. Many studies show the connection of music education to academics, test scores, and grades. Research has shown great benefits between music and standardized tests. A study was taken with 5,000 children that took the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS). One fourth of the students were taking part in some kind of music class. In the end, the one fourth of Sanchez 2 the enrolled students scored higher overall on the test than the other students. The study also showed that if they continue with music education, they would achieve higher than other students. Furthermore, those students enrolled in music classes “score fifty-one points higher on the verbal section of the SAT and thirty-nine points higher on the mathematics section.” (Yoon 9) A current experiment conducted by Eugenia Costa-Giomi (spring’99) showed incredible results with children and the effect piano lessons had on this group. The test made it clear that children who took piano lessons showed a greater increase in academic ability, than those who didn’t take them at all, or even children that dropped out of lessons. The test showed that after two years of instruction, the child who took the lessons showed great increase in general and spatial test scores. The students who dropped out and didn’t take lessons,... ... middle of paper ... ...Development.” Journal of Music Education 47 (1999) : 198-212 Music Education for Young Children: Media and Research Center. May 2001 http://www.music4kidsonline.com “Rauscher’s research points to link between Intelligence and Music.” Music making and the Brain. July. 1998. AMC. 23 Mar. 2001. http://www.amc-music.com/brain/rauscher.html Suzuki, Peter. “Children at Risk.” Grammy Magazine Aug. 1991: 1-3. Wilson, Frank R. ed. Music and Child Development: the biology of music making. St. Louis: MMR Music, 1990. Yoon, Jenny Nam. “ Music in the classroom: It’s Influence on Children’s Brain Development, Academic Performance, and Practical life skills.” Diss. Biola University, 2000.
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...
Apfeldorf’s article “Uncovering a Tiny World” discusses Hooke’s book which is known for its microscopic illustrations of insects and microbes that Hooke had drawn as he viewed them under the microscope. His elaborate drawings of tiny objects and insects were the scientific evidence that supported his claims of the significant value of the microscope to science and the many ways it could be used. The book also contained a description of how to make a powerful microscope with a spherical lens, much like Leeuwenhoek’s glass pearls. Leeuwenhoek traveled to England that same year and is believed to have obtained a copy of Hooke’s book and
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...
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.
Schlaug, Gottfried, Andrea Norton, Kate Overy, and Ellen Winner. Effects of Music Training on the Child’s Brain. The Musician's Brain. New York Academy Of Sciences, 2005. Web. 14 Oct. 2013. .
In most recent years, schools have been fighting to keep music programs alive in school systems across the nation. Some schools believe that due to budget factors, music should be cut out of the academic program, to save some money. But what is widely unknown is that schools that have good music programs do better in areas of math and sometimes reading. A high tech music program called Kodaly, was instituted into the schools of Hungary. If a person were to look at the school today, there are “…no third graders who cannot sing on pitch and sing beautifully” (Dickinson, 1993, p.1). Also, the students of the Hungarian schools academic achievement in math and science “ continues to be outstanding” (Dickinson, 1993, p.1). Another report shows that schools that spend 20% to 30% of their day on music (or the arts), have the highest academic achievement (Dickinson, 1993). One study was conducted involving first and second graders at two Rhode Island public elementary schools to show the effects of musical training on academic achievement. In this study, 96 children were used between the ages of 5-7 in eight first grade classrooms. Four of the classrooms were used as control classrooms, which received the standard amount of musical training; forty-five minutes of music that alternates weeks. The other four classrooms were called “test arts“ classrooms. These classrooms received an hour of music per week. After seven months of this training, the students were all given a standardized test. It was then concluded from the tests, that 77% of the “test arts” classes “…were now at grade level or above in mathematics, as compared to 55% of those in the control groups” (MENC, #1). This clearly shows that if ...
No one who has ever lived, has been competent to reach their aspirations or become successful effortlessly- every single person has had to fight for what they want, and has had to rise to the challenges they face and overcome them. Success is simply unconceivable to achieve without subduing and overcoming adversity. For instance, in the film “October Sky,” Homer Hickam had a sequence of hardships he had to face, particularly between his father, John Hickam. The specific quote “He has no idea what he wants to be. But I know what he is. He’s a menace… and a damn thief” displays his father’s resentment towards Homer’s passion for rocket building. His father disregarded Homer’s ability to construct such intricate rockets without hesitation. Not to mention the fact that he had explicitly called the rockets “fool things” and threw out all of Homer’s rocket building tools in the pouring rain, saying it’s “right where they belong.” The amount of discouragement, disrespectfulness, and
Schools should encourage their students to participate in music programs because of the mental benefits that they produce. In a study done at the University of Toronto by Dr. Glenn Schellenberg, it was found that children’s IQs can be raised by participating in fine arts. Dr. Schellenberg and his team used one hundred forty-four first graders for their research. For one year, they were given either music lessons, drama lessons, or no lessons. In the results, they found that all the groups IQs rose four points, but the children’s IQs that were given music lessons had rose seven (Music). Students’ involvement in fine arts also helps to produce higher test scores. Studies have shown that students involved in higher quality music programs at their schools scored about 22 percent higher in English and 20 percent higher on standardized testing than schools with lower quality programs (Eat). The reason behind the improvement is believed to be because the concentration needed for musical training and successful standardized testing are found to be similar. I believe that the mental benefits entailed in school music programs are a strong reason to count them as valuable to students.
Being involved in a first-class music program improves student’s abilities in other academic areas such as study skills, communication skills, and mathematics and science skills. Singing or playing an instrument is a tenuous thing to master; it takes a lot of practice, which involves problem solving skills, perseverance, and a drive for excellence. Students who excel this skill are often better at studying and following through with their goals because they are patient and know how much work it will take to conquer the subject, or school in general. Schools that have music programs that are rated as “excellent” or “very good” have higher graduation rates, 90.9% compared to 72.9% of those without (MENC Staff 4). When children learn to communicate emotions through music, they find it almost effortless to speak and communicate with others in real life situations. In band or choir they learn how to work with others to create a beautiful product, this ability transfers to teamwork in school and t...
In a study conducted by the University of London’s Centre for Toxicology, 30 out of 37 commonly used pesticides have been tested to block or mimic male hormones (Cone). This blockage can affect testosterone levels negatively as well as other androgens produced within a male’s body causing serious health concerns with fertilization, hair loss, and low sex drive. The study also discovered that certain pesticides that are used within today’s agriculture can, “…activate or inhibit hormone receptors in cells that turn genes on and off” (Cone). Therefore, fetuses and infants can be at high risk when exposed in the womb or through breast milk since the hormones being turned on or off control masculinization of the reproductive tract. Overall, pesticides seem like they are doing more harm to human’s health then they are at keeping crops healthy and should be eliminated from modern agriculture
"Our environment is a heritage and our legacy that we all inherited"(Anonymous). Most people have no idea how this quote applies in their life. Have you ever wondered if what you are eating has something in it that can harm your health? Pesticides are harmful to the human health and the environment. They are used to kill insects and living organisms in growing gardens using different substances of chemicals humans but can be also affect and the environment. Some agricultural studies have showed the different effects of chemicals in pest control and how it has been enforced to society. Different communities around the world believe in changing the ways by using different methods like organic control or homemade pest control, which can result to more expensive but can make a difference in our lives.
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.
There are 2.5 billion pounds of pesticides being applied to agricultural products each year in the United States. This is ten times more than was applied forty years ago. It is still unknown as to what type of exact effects these chemicals may have on individuals. Some farmers that have been using pesticides in their fields and developed leukemia are finding that the cause of their disease is from inhaling pesticides. These chemicals are still in use today and most of them have never been tested for the short or long-term effects that they may have on humans.
Throughout the entire Unites States, 90-100 percent of almost every crop is sprayed with pesticides each year. Pesticides date back 4,500 years ago, when simple elements such as sulfur and mercury were used to stop pests from eating crops (Unsworth). However, today, pesticides have grown into an enormous industry, allowing 1.5 billion pounds of pesticides and insecticides to be used each year, being far more complex than simple elements. Since complex inorganic pesticides were first commercially produced in the US in the 1940’s (Unsworth), numerous have studied and wondered what impact pesticides have on the environment and the food consumed. As pesticides are extremely complex and created to often destroy weeds and bugs, they also can affect plants, ecosystems, and animals. Because pesticides are insanely toxic to animal environments and humans, alternative ways to prevent bugs and weeds must be executed.
Pesticide is a chemical used to prevent, wipe out and control the pest problem in agriculture. The use of pesticides have become a common practice around the world, and used almost everywhere, such as agricultural fields, homes, park and school, and so on. Most pesticides are insecticides, herbicides and fungicides that have distinct purposes. Insecticides are used to control insects; herbicides are used to destroy plants; fungicides are used to prevent molds and mildews. Most commonly pesticides contain highly toxic chemical such as Acid copper chromate (ACC), Acephate and Chlorpyrifos, and so on. One of example of insecticides, Chlorpyrifos, sprays widely on a variety of food and golf courses in order to control pests in a cornfield. However, “Chlorpyrifos can cause cholinesterase inhibition in humans; that is, it can over stimulate the nervous system causing nausea, dizziness, confusion, and at very high exposures (e.g., accidents or major spills), respiratory paralysis and death.” (EPA GOV) In the market has thousands of products are similar as Chlorpyrifos.