Plato, Aristotle, Boethius, Leonardo da
Vinci, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, René Descartes, Benjamin
Franklin, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer, Stephen
Hawkin — What do all of these great men have in common? They were all
were musicians. Coincidence? Certainly not. Years of scientific
studies are proving what many of us have known all along: Music
education makes smarter, more successful students that grow up to be
more productive adults.
“Several studies by the American Association for the Advancement of
Science, which is based at Brown University, explored the effects of
art and music education on young children’s learning. The conclusions
of these studies support the theory that music instruction can help
build intellectual and emotional skills, facilitate children’s learning
and strengthen other academic areas, such as reading and math. Also,
these studies indicate that music can positively affect children and
adults of all ages.
“The conclusions of these Brown University studies are consistent
with other research on music and its effect on child development. One
study (by researchers at the University of Wisconsin and the University
of California) shows that when three and four-year-old children were
given simple piano lessons over a six-month period, they performed 34%
better than other children in IQ tests, some of whom had had computer
lessons instead. These impressive results came from a study of 789
children from diverse social and economic backgrounds.
“In an interview, one of the researchers from the University of
California said: “Music training jump starts certain inherent patterns
in parts of the brain responsible for spatial-temporal reasoning.”
Computer lessons, on the other hand, do not force children to think
ahead or visualize, as they must when playing a piece of music.
“Several studies indicate that the reading level of students with
one year of music was nearly one grade higher than their peers without
such music training. Children with two years of music experience had
scores equivalent to two years ahead of their reading age, and these
statistics improved with music experience.”
(“The Benefits of Music on Child Development”
http://www.paulborgese.com/report_benefitofmusic.html)
Here are some of the studies supporting the incredible benefits of music:
Children
Spatial-Temporal IQ — Researchers found that children given
piano lessons improved much more dramatically in their spatial-temporal
IQ scores (important for some types of mathematical reasoning) than
children who received computer lessons or no lessons.
Higher SAT Scores —
Students with experience in music performance and music appreciation
scored higher on the SAT than students with no music education: 53
points higher on the verbal and 39 points higher on the math for music
performance; 61 points higher on the verbal and 42 points higher on the
math for music appreciation.”
Highest Grades —
Data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 showed
that music participants received more academic honors and awards than
non-music students, and that the percentage of music participants
receiving As, As/Bs, and Bs was higher than the percentage of non-
participants receiving those grades. NELS:88 First Follow-up, 1990,
National Center for Education Statistics, Washington DC
Higher Test Scores —
A ten-year study indicates that students who study music achieve
higher test scores, regardless of socioeconomic background. – Dr. James
Catterall, UCLA.
Higher Reading Scores —
In a Scottish study, one group of elementary students received musical
training, while another other group received an equal amount of
discussion skills training. After six (6) months, the students in the
music group achieved a significant increase in reading test scores,
while the reading test scores of the discussion skills group did not
change. – Sheila Douglas and Peter Willatts, Journal of Research in
Reading, 1994.
Better Behavior —
In a 2000 survey, 73 percent of respondents agree that teens who play
an instrument are less likely to have discipline problems. – Americans
Love Making Music – And Value Music Education More Highly Than Ever,
American Music Conference, 2000.
Lowest Crime —
Secondary students who participated in band or orchestra reported the
lowest lifetime and current use of all substances (alcohol, tobacco,
illicit drugs). Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Report.
Reported in Houston Chronicle, January 1998
Better Organized —
Students who are rhythmically skilled also tend to better plan,
sequence, and coordinate actions in their daily lives. – “Cassily
Column,” TCAMS Professional Resource Center, 2000.
Problem Solvers —
Students who can perform complex rhythms can also make faster and more
precise corrections in many academic and physical situations,
according to the Center for Timing, Coordination, and Motor Skills. –
Rhythm seen as key to music’s evolutionary role in human intellectual
development, Center for Timing, Coordination, and Motor Skills, 2000.
Less Anxiety —
Music students demonstrate less test anxiety and performance anxiety
than students who do not study music. – “College-Age Musicians
Emotionally Healthier than Non-Musician Counterparts,” Houston
Chronicle, 1998.
Most Medical Students —
Physician and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors
of medical school applicants. He found that 66% of music majors who
applied to medical school were admitted, the highest percentage of any
group. 44% of biochemistry majors were admitted. As reported in “The
Case for Music in the Schools,” Phi Delta Kappan, February 1994
Adults
“Music making makes the elderly
healthier…. There were significant decreases in anxiety, depression,
and loneliness following keyboard lessons. These are factors that are
critical in coping with stress, stimulating the immune system, and in
improved health. Results also show significant increases in human
growth hormones following the same group keyboard lessons. (Human
growth hormone is implicated in aches and pains.)” Dr. Frederick Tims,
reported in AMC Music News, June 2, 1999
Exercises Brain —
Scientists have found that music involves the left, right, front, and
back portions of the brain. –Donald Hodges, “Neuromusical Research.”
Handbook of Music Psychology (San Antonio: IMR Press, 1996).
Boosts Productivity —
Music can boost productivity in the workplace. Businesses like
AT&T, DuPont, and Equitable Life Insurance have cut training time
in half, increased output, and raised efficiency with creative music
programs. -Business Music: A Performance Tool for the Office/Workplace
(Seattle: Muzak, 1991).
Lowers Temperature, Blood Pressure, etc —
Music can affect body temperature because of its influence on blood
circulation, pulse rate, breathing, and sweating. Transcendent music
and loud music can raise our body heat a few degrees, while soft music
with a weak beat can lower it. – Don Campbell, The Mozart Effect (New
York: Avon Books, 1997), 70-71.
Prevents Disease —
Researchers at Michigan State University concluded that listening to
one’s “preferred” music may elicit a profound positive emotional
experience that can trigger the release of hormones which can
contribute to a lessening of those factors which enhance the disease
process. – Dale Bartlett, Donald Kaufman, and Roger Smeltekop, “The
Effects of Music Listening and Perceived Sensory Experiences on the
Immune System as Measured by lnterleukin-1 and Cortisol,” Journal of
Music Therapy 30 (1993): 194-209.
Calming —
The city of Edmonton, Canada, pipes in Mozart string quartets in the
city squares to calm pedestrian traffic, and, as a result, drug
dealings have lessened. – “Music-Let’s Split,” Newsweek, 1990.
Relieves Pain —
Doctors in the coronary care unit of Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore
report that a half an hour of listening to classical music produced
the same effect as ten milligrams of Valium. – Sheila Ostrander &
Lynn Schroeder with Nancy Ostrander, Superlearning 2000 (New York:
Delacorte Press, 1994), 76.
Reduces Migraines —
Music can help migraine sufferers reduce the intensity, frequency, and
duration of the headaches. – Paul Chance, “Music Hath Charms to Soothe a
Throbbing Head,” Psychology Today, February 1987, p. 14.
Heals, Restructures —
In recovery wards and rehabilitation clinics, music is widely used to
restructure and “repattern” repetitive movements following accidents
and illness. – Don Campbell, The Mozart Effect (New York: Avon Books,
1997), 69.
Helps Alzheimers Patients —
Music therapists working with Alzheimer’s patients have found that
rhythmic interaction or listening to music has resulted in decreased
agitation, increased focus and concentration, enhanced ability to
respond verbally and behaviorally, elimination of demented speech,
improved ability to respond to questions, and better social
interaction. – Carol Prickett and Randall Moore, “The Use of Music to
Aid Memory of Alzheimer’s Patients,” Journal of Music Therapy 28
(1991).
Helps Stroke Patients —
Researchers in Colorado found that stroke patients who were given
rhythmic auditory stimulation a half hour a day for three weeks had
improved cadence, stride, and foot placement compared with a control
group. -Marwick, “Leaving Concert Hall for Clinic.” In The Mozart
Effect by Don Campbell. (New York: Avon Books, 1997), 273.
Stroke Victims —
In a French study, the use of melodies was shown to stimulate speech
recovery in stroke victims. – Neurology, December, 1996.
Lessens Depression, Loneliness —
In a 1998 study, retirees who participated in group keyboard lessons
reported decreased anxiety, decreased depression, and decreased
loneliness when compared to a control group. – Scientific Study
Indicates That Making Music Makes the Elderly Healthier, American Music
Conference, 1998.
Live Longer — People who participate in the arts live longer than others, according to a Swedish study. – British Medical Journal, 1996.
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