The Children’s Music Workshop provides some great information about the benefits of music education for youth. The full article is here>>, but there were some key points I wanted to point out as our youth music organization works hard to prepare for our upcoming fundraiser on May 8th. Click the flyer to the left to visit our homepage and purchase tickets.
The article lists four areas where music education provides benefits. It leads to Success in society, school, intelligence and life.
Success in Society: studies have shown that secondary school students who participated in band or orchestra report the lowest lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. It has a noticable impact on reducing teen violence. Music study is credited with broadining understanding and appreciation of the world around you and stimulate and contribute to intellectual development. The College Board in New York lists the arts as one of the six basic academic subject areas students should study in order to succeed in college. Most of the very best engineers and technical designers in the Silicon Valley industry area are, nearly without exception, also practicing musicians.
Success in School: Success in school leads to success in society. Learning music builds study skills, communication and cognitive skills. Through participation in ensembles, students learn to work effectively in the school environment without resorting to violence or inappropriate behavior. Music education leads to significantly higher levels of mathematics proficency, regardless of the student’s socio-economic status. 66% of music majors applying to medical school were accepted; the highest of any group; for example: 44% of biochemistry majors were accepted. More high school students identify music teachers as role models than any other kind of teacher, and finally; students who participate in arts programs have shown significant increases in self-esteem and thinking skills.
Success in Developing Intelligence:
Music training enhances brain function and fine motor skills. The constant adjustments made for tone, tempo, style, rhythim, phrasing and feeling train the brain to organize quickly and multi-task. Abstract reasoning skills (the skills needed to learn math and science) are dramatically enhanced through studying music. Spatial-Temporal skills have repeatedly been shown to improve through even the simplest of music study. Overall “self-concept” was significantly increased in at risk children who participated in music and the arts.
Success in Life:
See this blog post from Andrew Bertoff, publisher of Pipes|Drums magazine: Credit Piping for a very interesting reflection on the important role of bagpiping in his life. Everyone wants their children to flourish in life, school, work, and most of us want all children to flourish in these as well. Participation in music brings countless psychological, physical and spritual benefits, encouraging self-discipline and diligence, bringing people together and more. For bagpipers and drummers, Facebook and other social networking mediums are really opening up the whole world to our youth to meet people with their interests, and many of our members are connected to some of the most talented musicians in the world in this way as well as at the various camps and highland games we attend. They are learning of all the places they could go in this world, they would very likely be able to find someone interested in bagpiping, or a bagpipe band to play with, and they will always be able to find someone interested in music to connect with.
Music fills us with wonder, helps us stay healthy longer, and improves our communication, creativity, and cooperation skills.
Northwest Junior Pipe Band raises the funds necessary to continue our program through performances, competitions, and fundraisers. The May 8th 15 year Anniversary party at Lynnwood Convention Center is the most important and largest fundraiser in the band’s history. We recognize that we are all stretching our dollars farther and farther to get by, but we hope you can agree that this is a very important part of providing our youth a valuable foundation in their lives.
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