Children Who Take Keyboard Lessons Have Greater Abstract Reasoning

Monday, December 21, 2015 No Comments
Studies have shown that young children who take keyboard lessons have greater abstract reasoning abilities than their peers, and that these abilities improve over time with sustained training in music.
~ Rauscher, F.H. , & Zupan, M., “Classroom keyboard instruction improves kindergarten children’s spatial-temporal performance: A field experiment” Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 15 , 215-228.2000.

Music Students Have Lowest Lifetime Use of Substances

Friday, December 18, 2015 No Comments
In the past, secondary students who participated in a music group at school reported the lowest lifetime and current use of all substances (tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs).
~ 5 VH1: Save the Music. “The Benefits of Music Education.” VH1: Save the Music. Accessed February 24, 2015. .

Children Involved In Music Have Larger Growth of Neural Activity

Thursday, December 17, 2015 No Comments
Research indicates the brain of a musician, even a young one, works differently than that of a nonmusician. “There’s some good neuroscience research that children involved in music have larger growth of neural activity than people not in music training. When you’re a musician and you’re playing an instrument, you have to be using more of your brain.”
~ Dr. Eric Rasmussen, chair of the Early Childhood Music Department at the Peabody Preparatory of The John Hopkins University, quoted in “The Benefits of Music Education,” pbs.org, Laura Lewis Brown.

Steve Purcell – Paige’s Music Staff Spotlight

Tuesday, December 15, 2015 1 Comment

Our Staff Spotlight for December is Steve Purcell.  Steve is one of seven District Managers that visit schools on a weekly basis.  Watch the interview below to learn more about Steve and what it’s like being a “road man.”

 

 

Music Enhances Fine Motor Skills

Tuesday, December 15, 2015 No Comments
Music enhances fine motor skills, or the ability to use small, acute muscle movements to write, use a computer, and perform other physical tasks.
~ Forgeard, 2008; Hyde, 2009; Schlaug et al. 2005, “The Effects of Musical Training on Structural
Brain Development A Longitudinal Study,” The Neurosciences and Music III: Disorders and Plasticity: Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1169: 182–186 (2009).

Arts Education Helps Prepare Students

Monday, December 14, 2015 No Comments
“I believe arts education in music, theater, dance, and the visual arts is one of the most creative ways we have to find the gold that is buried just beneath the surface. They (children) have an enthusiasm for life a spark of creativity, and vivid imaginations that need training – training that prepares them to become confident young men and women.”
~ Richard W. Riley, Former US Secretary of Education

Children Who Study A Musical Instrument Are More Likely To Excel In All Of Their Studies

Friday, December 11, 2015 No Comments
Children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all of their studies, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills, stay in school, and pursue further education.
~ Arte Music Academy. “Statistical benefits of music in education.” Statistical-Benefits-Of-Music-In-Education. Accessed July 17, 2014.

Music Training Improves Nervous System Functions

Thursday, December 10, 2015 No Comments
Musical training is thought to improve nervous system function by focusing attention on meaningful acoustic cues, and these improvements in auditory processing cascade to language and cognitive skills.
~ Nina Kraus, Jessica Slater, Elaine C. Thompson, Jane Hornickel, Dana L. Strait, Trent Nicol, Travis White-Schwoch, “Music Enrichment Programs Improve the Neural Encoding of Speech in At-Risk Children,” Journal of Neuroscience, September 3, 2014.