Children Involved In Music Have Large Growth Of Neural Activity

Monday, June 26, 2017 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.

Music Instruction Influences Multiple Disciplines

Thursday, June 22, 2017 No Comments

The cognitive structures developed through music instruction “exposed and illuminated more general organizing structures relevant for multiple disciplines.

~ Portowitz,P., Lichtenstein, O., Egorova, L., & Brand, E. (2009). Underlying mechanisms linking music education and cognitive modifiability. Research Studies in Music Education, 31, 107–29

D’Addario Clarinet Reed Guide

Tuesday, June 20, 2017 No Comments

 

Rico by D’Addario
Rico by D’Addario reeds are unfiled and feature a thinner profile and blank. Designed for ease of response, they are ideal for students, revered by educators worldwide, and are a favorite among jazz musicians. D’Addario’s state-of-the-art machinery and reed-making process have resulted in unprecedented consistency in today’s Rico reed.

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School Music Helps Achievement In English And Math

Monday, June 19, 2017 No Comments

An analysis of data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 demonstrated a significant correlation between participation in school music groups and achievement in math and English.

~ Broh, B. A. (2002). Linking extracurricular programming to academic achievement: Who benefits and why? Sociology of Education, 75(1), 69-95

Arts Give Students Better Understanding Of The World

Thursday, June 15, 2017 No Comments

“A broad education in the arts helps give children a better understanding of their world…We need students who are culturally literate as well as math and science literate.”

~ Paul Ostergard, Vice President, Citicorp

Take Care Of Your Instrument On Summer Break

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 No Comments

repair-brad

With schools out and possibly no summer program going on it can be difficult to get your instrument in to the shop when you live a distance away. Here are a couple of tips for those of you this effects.

Brass instruments – At the very least make sure you grease up the tuning slides and move them in and out a few times to spread the grease around. Keep the valves oiled and make sure you get the instrument out from time to time to move the valves and slides around. Clean your mouthpiece out!

Woodwind instruments – On reed instruments make sure you take the reed off the mouthpiece and clean it out with some mild liquid detergent soap and lukewarm water (not hot!). On flutes you can also clean out the headjoint (not the main body) with some mild liquid detergent soap and lukewarm water (not hot!). Be careful to not move the head crown assembly or it will have to be reset.

String instruments – Make sure and let the tension off on the bow to keep the hair from stretching. Use a soft cloth and wipe the rosin off the top. Do not try and use generic home cleaners as they may damage the finish.

These tips and more are covered under our “care and maintenance” videos which you will find on our website and in previous blog posts.

Above all make sure the instrument is stored in a dry climate controlled area. Too much heat and/or moisture can cause mildew and mold in just a short time.

As always, please contact us if you have any questions.

Schools That Are “Arts-Rich” Score Higher

Monday, June 12, 2017 No Comments

Children from “arts-rich” public schools score higher on expression, risk-taking, creativity-imagination, cooperative learning, and academic self-concept than children in “arts-poor” systems.

~ “Learning In and Through the Arts: The Question of Transfer,” Judith M. Burton, Robert Horowitz, and Hal Abeles, Studies in Art Education, 2000, 41(3): 228-257

The Arts Are An Essential Element In Education

Thursday, June 8, 2017 No Comments

“An elementary school that treats the arts as the province of a few gifted children, or views them only as recreation and entertainment, is a school that needs an infusion of soul. That arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic.”

~ William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education