Children and music

Anna — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:53:58 GMT

Thanks Robert for this most interesting story. I will be sure to watch this one.

Teachers have known these facts for years. We are about 10th or 15th in the world for education. I pray for our next generation and for our country where sports legends are more valued than scientists and doctors.

Children and music

Patricia Daly-Lipe, Haymarket, VA — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:03:36 GMT

From Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1967) to Dr. Giorgio Lozanov, it has been well researched that music acts as a transmitter in terms of the learning process. The etymology of mathematics is 'mathema' which is Greek for what is learned. Music whose basis is math, stimulates the intuitive side of the brain and the learning process is accelerated. Please read my book, 'Myth, Magic and Metaphor, A Journey into the Heart of Creativity'.

Children and music

Nancy,Lodi NJ — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:45:06 GMT

Robert... I just wanted to say thank you so much for this story! I am a music teacher and am a strong advocate in my state however it is nice ot have some validation from outside sources...so Thanks!

Children and music

Rob Bowden, Catonsville, MD — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:45:38 GMT

Thank you for this covering this story. Unfortunately, because of curriculum narrowing caused by the pressures of NCLB, music may be eliminated or reduced in many Baltimore/DC area schools before such research is accepted by school administrators.

Children and music

Cindy Schmid, Cheyenne, WY — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:47:49 GMT

Music teachers have known for years that music is essential to student learning. Thank you, the Dana Foundation, and Dr. Spelke for doing the research and bringing this to light.

Children and music

Jill Whitney, Springfield, IL — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:18:07 GMT

My son just began piano lessons and he is in an accelerated math class. What a great story! Keep us posted with more updates!!!

Children and music

Sr. Beth Dowd OSu, New Rochelle, NY — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:51:36 GMT

This message is very timely for us, an organization which uses outstanding high school musicians to teach music to children from families who cannot afford the going rate of a dollar a minute for instrumental lessons. Both academic achievement and increased self-esteem can be documented as results of this program: Songcatchers Inc., Reaching for Peace Through Music. We are located in the poorest section of New Rochelle, NY, where over 100 children are taught by over 50 volunteers. Quote from a mother whose children had stopped coming because of familiy complications. When I called to be sure everything was all right, I received the impassioned response" They have to get back to their music. When they stopped the music lessons their grades went down"!
And from a child on the night of her first recital: "Mommy, I am SO proud of myself"!. THANK YOU FOR AIRING THIS REPORT!!!

Children and music

R. Brent Lyles, Austin, Texas — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:17:20 GMT

This is great! As a nonprofit that supports middle and high school music programs by bringing jazz and Latin musicians into the classroom for lessons and workshops (http://www.anthropos.org), we're always looking for ways to talk about the value of music education. I especially appreciated the links to other sites that are relevant and provide background. Thanks for making our job a little bit easier, and by extension, for helping out music educators and their students everywhere!

Children and music

Gail — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:09:13 GMT

Robert,
My child was taught third and fourth grade Math WITH music by a wonderful teacher, Mr. Gleason. I was skeptical at first, but she became #1 in Math in her future classes for MANY years. She also took up piano
in second grade.....for 8 years. She also was in the Youth Church Choir. She just graduated from a high school in Dallas, Tx. as Valedictorian of her class of 2007. She is now attending Vassar College. Who ever said, "music makes the world go
round".......was right. It contributes in so many ways.

Children and music

Sr. Beth Dowd OSu, New Rochelle, NY — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:21:31 GMT

What a wonderful article and study Here at Songcatchers Inc we run an after school music program for disadvantaged children. Talented high school teachers are their volunteer teachers. When 2 girls had not been coming and were called to be sure they were all right, the mom's response: "They have to go back to music. When they dropped music, their marks went down>"!

Children and music

Buckstein, Bradenton, Florida — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:17:17 GMT

As a music teacher that has lost her 2 last teaching positions due to a lack of money in the system, I am happy to see this story air. As much as we need to teach math, reading and all the other subjects, music helps to teach these subjects to the majority of the children that do not learn through reading a textbook and simply taking. Adding music and the arts increases the amount learning by leaps and bounds.

Children and music

Denise Joop Port Charlotte Florida — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:34:57 GMT

Thank You for airing this story. I have been a music teacher for twenty four years. In that time period music teachers have always had to justify the value of arts education.

Today there is so much evidence of the benefit of arts education, that the thought of budget cuts in the arts don't even make sense. This type of budget cut should not even be considered. It is because of this constant threat to our schools and our children, that the value of arts education has actually been undervalued. Until society and our goverment representatives show their support for the arts, the present mentality will not change.

Children and music

Jose — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:18:41 GMT

As a music teacher in California we have seen study after study validate the importance of music in the curriculum. Forget for a moment the studies that show music helps with other subjects, what about music for the importance of music. Imagine your childs world without music and then imagine your world without music. Thats what these cuts are essentially doing, taking music out of your world.

Children and music

TJ, Bradenton, FL — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:11:22 GMT

It is amazing to me that we have to keep coming up with MORE research to justify the need for music/arts in our schools. There have been numerous studies that show the relationship between the arts and students ability to learn and/or enjoyment of learning. Either way, the end result is a better student. As a HS Choral director, I am offended by the laws that take students from my class to be "remediated" in the subjects they cannot pass on the mandated FCAT (Florida's NCLB test). The suggestion there is that I will not have a positive effect on that students learning, but a 2nd English/Math teacher will. When legislators stop making knee-jerk decisions without consulting the research that is out to aid them in policy-making endeavors, only then will our students reap all the benefits of the talents our educator's in America.

Children and music

Don May, Ellensburg, WA — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:15:09 GMT

Thank you for presenting this report (as with all other reports concerning music and brain development). I'm concerned: only some districts around our nation listen to these reports and deem this type of research valid and then take steps to ensure "all kids access music education." Student access to music is quickly becoming a district-by-district decision whether to offer continuous K-12 classes or to eliminate music curriculum to focus on English, math, science... Some district say they offer music classes but school district requirements PUSH kids from the music classes––these districts say, "kids have to make tough choices in life." Making a choice to graduate or take music classes isn't a real choice. As these cases becomes the norm, those districts that choose NOT to offer music eliminate the development of so many kids. The misnomer title, "No Child Left Behind" leaves many children behind because we fail to develop a "well rounded child" through the Arts.

Children and music

Jaime, Elk Grove, California — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:10:28 GMT

Thank you! as a music teacher, in the days that we are living in now, when music and art are the first things cut. they are seen as "expendible" and not necessary! boy are they wrong! what would our lives be with out the arts? we would have boring, silent, blank walled homes and no joy! It is interesting when looking back on history, before great empires fell, didn't they take the arts out of their lifestyle? I live in CA, where the elementary schools do not have music except for an after school band program that parents pay for! It is very sad.

Children and music

Rebecca Lewis — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:01:35 GMT

We are a low income family in Seattle that has a very gifted 16 year son who plays the drums. Can you tell me if there is anything out there for him? We can't afford to buy him drums or pay for lessons. There is nothing available at the school. He has dropped out of high school now and we don't know what to do. Any suggestions?