Top 20 Reasons Why Children Should Study Music

Music is like math and Spanish or Latin: It's a foreign language, one that can help develop learning, motor and comprehension skills. Learning music or playing an instrument opens doors to new opportunities. What's more, music's fun.

All you need to do is visit the kids’ audio/video section of your local CD shop and you will be bombarded with a multitude of educational enhancement products to buy. You may find ‘Baby Einstein’ or ‘Brainy Baby’ and an abundance of similar merchandise to make your child smarter. These types of goods can be a wonderful way to introduce music to your children before the age of three. However, nothing can replace private music lessons for a 3 to 9 year old.

The brain develops at a rapid rate between birth and three and is an essential window for the development of neurons. Therefore, encouraging musical exploration is an easy way to promote intellectual development.

Before the age of three, toy instruments can be an excellent introduction to the real thing and group musical play classes can prepare a child for later study. Singing at any age is highly beneficial and linguistic & musical awareness can begin as early as the fifth month of pregnancy when the fetal brain and ears are wide open to receive stimulus.

From the age of 3 years old, a child’s brain circuits are mature enough to begin instrumental and/or vocal lessons. Voice is probably the most important instrument because singing is a tremendous gateway to confident communication and full self-expression.

The piano is usually the best musical instrument to start with because it does not require any specific fingering to play. However, children should choose instruments to play by the sounds they like. Kids will practice more if they like the sound of an instrument.

If your child chooses the piano, inexpensive electronic keyboards are a good way to begin because they are very affordable and portable. Many brands on the market today will display the notes on a digital screen while music is being played. These types of keyboards can greatly assist a child to begin to read musical notes and symbols. They also often have built in rhythm and song functions that make singing and dancing along with the music easy.

Since Howard Gardner’s “Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences” in 1983 and Gordon Shaw and Francis Rauscher’s “Mozart Effect” in 1993, there has be much debate and research into whether or not music study can be linked to better academic performance.

You will find thousands of books, products, articles and websites discussing the advantages of studying music. For your convenience, the top 20 benefits reported for vocal and instrumental music study are listed below.

1. Music training has been linked to spatial-temporal reasoning skills. (I.e. ability to read a map, put puzzles together, form mental images, transform/visualize things in space that unfold over time, and recognize relationships between objects. These skills are often helpful in science, math, and chess.)

2. Musical symbols, structure, and rhythmic training utilize fractions, ratios, and proportions, which are all important in mathematical study.

3. Increases problem finding/solving, logic and thinking skills like analysis, evaluation and the linkage/organization of ideas

4. Optimizes brain neuron development & circuitry

5. Assists motor development especially coordination of hands, eyes and body

6. Expands multiple intelligences and helps students’ transfer study, cognitive and communication skills from subject to subject in any syllabus

7. Group orchestra or ensemble activities help promote cooperation, social harmony and teach kids discipline while working together toward a common goal.

8. Music augments memory. For example, most people learn their ABC’s by singing them. Repeating a tune in a predictable rhythmic song structure makes memorization easier.

9. Singing is a great way to aid/improve reading ability and instruction. Karaoke is a perfect example. Children may learn a song by ear (auditory) but words on a TV or computer screen provide a simultaneous visual anchor.

10. In vocal music learning rhythm, phrasing, and pitch greatly enhances language, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary skills. This is especially noticeable when using songs in first and second language study.

11. Improves critical reading and writing

12. Raises test scores, decreases performance anxiety, and teaches kids how to handle/manage stress during standardized exams

13. Helps children channel unexpressed and/or negative emotions in a positive way

14. Boosts creative thinking

15. Reading music and performing memorized pieces help children to think ahead

16. Improvisation helps people to “think on their feet”

17. Solo performance is connected to self-esteem & self-efficacy. (concept of self capacity) Children learn to reach for their very best.

18. When kids prepare and consistently practice for recital or performance, they work to sing/play without errors. They generally apply similar determination and perseverance to many future endeavors academic or otherwise.

19. Improves understanding of homework and enables a higher levels of concentration

20. Children who study music usually have a better attitude, are more motivated and are less intimidated by learning new things

Strong music reading, writing notation, sight singing (solfege), music theory, literacy, and moving the body to music are solid, transferable skills. Learning is a two-way street. For example, one can assume that mathematics can also develop music. Academic achievement links positively with musical achievement and vice versa.

As early as the 19th century, the visionary Dr. Maria Montessori included music and arts into her worldwide school curriculums to greatly enhance and accelerate learning.

‘Lorna Heyge, Ph.D., says: "While educational leaders turn to early childhood music because it promotes brain development, they will stay with music because of the joy and stimulation experienced in actual music making. Music learning requires total involvement-that is why it appeals so much to young children"

Copyright 2006 Deborah Torres Patel

---

Deborah Torres Patel helps ordinary people become extraordinary communicators. She began her formal musical training at 5 years old and is a passionate advocate of arts education for children. Her work with adults has clearly shown that a foundation of music at an early age contributes significantly to one’s overall confidence and full-self expression later in life. For free voice, presentation, powerful public speaking and video training tips subscribe to her popular newsletter at: http://expressingyou.com/. http://www.articlecity.com/

Red Earth Tobacco Dancers-Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Indian Council website has an interesting article on how they are using dance to educate about the dangers of tobacco smoking to their young people. The article addresses ceremonial tobacco and commercial tobacco. You might find this an interesting approach as to how dance is being used to educate about tobacco use and health.

Mishquock Wuttamauog - Red Earth Tobacco Dancers

The Red Earth Tobacco Program was designed to educate Native American young people and adults on the issues of tobacco use. It is designed to build youth empowerment to develop peer leadership in the hopes that this will stop the initiation of commercial tobacco use among Native American young people and elders. It is also our aim to decrease second-hand smoke exposure, and to increase smoking cessation, and cessation support programs, so that we all can live a healthier tobacco-free lifestyle.

Our approach in dealing with this issue is to recruit young Native Americans between the ages of 10-19, and to form a Native American Dance Troupe. Through dance interpretation, these young people send out anti-smoking messages in order to explain the difference between ceremonial tobacco and commercial tobacco. As the young people dance, they ask themselves “why do I dance?” The answer is: “I dance to stomp out commercial tobacco addiction, and I pray with sacred tobacco to give me strength! You can beat it if you try, but if you don’t, you’ll just die!”

Native American people gave Europeans the sacred gift of tobacco. The Europeans enjoyed the tobacco and began to sell it around the world. Through the commercialization of tobacco, chemicals were added to preserve and enhance its flavor. Today, commercial tobacco contains thousands of chemicals. Forty of these chemicals are carcinogenic and include ammonia, formaldehyde, and cyanide. Sacred tobacco has remained chemical free.

The use of sacred, or "ceremonial tobacco" has been passed down from generation to generation. According to studies done by the University of Columbia, there is no conclusive evidence that smoking sacred tobacco, used only at ceremonies is addictive. On the average, sacred tobacco is used four times per month, or 48 times per year. In comparison, an average commercial tobacco smoker, who smokes two packs of cigarettes a day, will smoke 14,400 cigarettes per year! Worse, commercial tobacco contains very harsh chemicals which lead to addiction and serious health problems.

http://www.riindiancouncil.org/red-earth-tobaco-dancers/

Smoke Free Facility For A Reason-Protect The Children

Our school facility is a non-smoking environment to allow for a healthy learning environment for our students and staff. More and more information is available on the health problems that even young children develop because of second and third hand cigarette smoke. Respiratory infections, ear infections, asthma, sinus infection and more can be developed by children and adults by being in an environment filled with second and third hand smoke.

A recent article in the Enid News even reported that infants growing up in a home with a parent smoking are at a greater risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrom). Illnesses in infants and toddlers of parents that smoke can also have delay of lung growth according to the article.

For more information about second and third hand smoke, you can go to www.cdc.gov and the Enid News article at http://enidnews.com/localnews/x191085303/Children-feeling-the-effects-of-2nd-hand-smoke

Pearl Flutes

Looking for Pearl Flutes? We suggest that you contact our friends at Music2Master! With guidance from a true flute expert, we believe you will be very satisfied with your purchase from them. CHeck out what they have to say about Pearl Flutes below. You will find their website address and phone number at the botom of  this article.


Pearl Flutes
Pearl’s handmade craftsmanship has pioneered a tradition of flute making that is totally distinctive. Many flute makers claim to be innovators, but Pearl's novelty can be proven. Most of the artisans have the distinction of building flutes for their entire career only at Pearl. The apprentice program has been employed for decades, which allows the talents of master builders to be passed on to future generations. We do not only look to the past, but constantly conduct research with Gold, Silver, ergonomic key design, and headjoint study.
Start with Pearl's patented Pinless Mechanism, which has set an industry benchmark for smoothness and reliability. Coupled with Pearl's One-Piece Core-Bar Construction, there is no more dependable flute mechanism available.
Japanese Quality Control has insured that an investment in these instruments will provide a lifetime of musical satisfaction. The goal of handmade creativity united with meticulous assembly is consequently realized. All of the above would be useless without Pearl's revered commitment to accuracy of pitch, flexible articulation, and a beautiful and projecting sound. 952-924-4141. http://www.Music2Master.com
For more information, check our websites out at http://Music2Master.com and http://PearlFlutes.net

7 Reasons Why Children Should Take Gymnastics

By Dr. Robyn J.A. Silverman, PhD

USA Gymnastics, Guide to Gymnastics, May 2009
As educated adults in today's world, most of us already know the importance of physical activity in a child's life. It's not only recommended by the Center for Disease Control, the American Heart Association and other knowledgeable governing bodies, it is downright necessary for healthy living.

As we have become more and more award of the need for physical activity, schools have cut back on physical education due to budgetary constraints and mandated testing requirements. The end result is still in progress. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics clearly shows that children are becoming more overweight and our population as a whole is becoming more obese. These trends coupled with an ever more techno-savvy yet sedentary lifestyle has lead to more TV watching and not surprisingly, more health issues among our young people.

Luckily, we have options. We can seek out a gymnastics academy that can provide a great physical program to help our children create a healthy lifestyle. But just as important, we can seek out a club that provides our children with a place that stimulates their brains, exercises their social skills, encourages personal development, and fosters a sense of well-being all at the same time.

Physical Benefits
Gymnastics can endow children with great physical benefits. From muscle strength and balance to healthy bones and flexibility, gymnastics provides an exciting option for parents who know the value of a full body work. Every part of the body is used when doing gymnastics!

* Muscle Strength: Opportunities to gain muscle strength through tumbling, jumping, static flexing, and holding one's own body weight in various positions help children develop strong and powerful bodies. Muscle is built through resistance training which allows children to use their body's resistance as their own personal weight machine! Over time, these gymnasts get stronger which aids in the development of lean, toned muscles, improved balance and perhaps even improvements in posture.

* Healthy Bones: These same types of movements assist children with developing strong healthy bones since gymnastics is a weight-bearing activity. Weight-bearing activities, according to the CDC, are activities in which the child's body works against gravity. This means that a child's legs, feet or arms are actually supporting or carrying his or her own body weight.

* Flexibility: Flexibility is also a helpful by-product of gymnastics. Flexibility is simply put, the ability move the muscles through their full range of motion. Because gymnasts aim to achieve a variety of positions in order to perform skills on each apparatus, flexibility is important. It also has great use in everyday life such that it reduces tension, helps coordination, develops body awareness and promotes circulation.

Because gymnastics provides fun skills that children can practice at home, they will be more likely to engage in physical activity even between gymnastics classes. As we can all agree, the more we can get children up and off the couch and moving, the healthier they will become.

Non-Physical Benefits
A great gymnastics club that provides stimulating, age-appropriate curriculum and terrific instructors who care about their students, can help children yield other important non-physical benefits from gymnastics. Cognitive, social, and psycho-social benefits might not be as obvious as a toned muscle, but there is no question that they are there.

* Cognitive Benefits: When children are engaging in gymnastics, they are exercising their brains as well as their bodies. New research suggests that there is a strong correlation between physically fit children and academic achievement. This means that everytime you send your child to gymnastics class, they're getting an opportunity to engage in physical exercise that encourages healthy brain function. Nerve cells multiply and connections in the brain are strengthened. It is not surprising that children who are engaging in consistent physical activity like gymnastics are more likely to get better grades than their inactive peers.

* Social skills: Children can also benefit socially from engaging in gymnastics. Aside from simply interacting in a general way with other children in the class, some gymnastics clubs also encourage teamwork and partner drills in their classes. The more children can interact with different types of children both in school and in after-school programming, the more they will learn how to handle conflict and positively relate to others.

* Reduced Risky Behavior: Gymnastics clubs can provide a stable, reliable physical activity source for both children and teens. Young people who are consistently physically active are much less likely to engage in using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. When children can find positive, active ways to keep busy in a place that you can trust, they will not have to make up ways to occupy their time that could lead to poor or risky choices.

* Confidence: When gymnastics clubs use a supportive, mastery-oriented approach rather than one that pressures children to excel at all costs, instructors can help their budding athletes develop a wonderful sense of confidence. While physical activity tends to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, with the right instructors, children develop and "I can" attitude that can give them that intangible high of knowing that they can count on themselves to succeed.

Gymnastics can be a wonderful activity for children to enjoy. It can clearly benefit young people in several ways. Fortunately, there are many great clubs from which to choose! So if your child asks you "can I please try gymnastics?" you can confidently answer "yes," knowing that with your encouragement and the right club, he/she can focus on enjoying himself/herself and getting the most out of every class.

Seiling Music Festival

The Seiling Music Festival dates have been posted! April 13-14 will be the date this year of this annual event that features music students, bands, show choirs and choirs for students in grades kindergarten through eigth grades. This event has been held for a couple of generations now and is a standard event for alot of schools and music schools in the area.

Students of Academy of Fine Arts will once again be attending the festival. Music assignments have been made and parents are encouraged to watch for more information to be posted soon.