Learning Music Can Make Kids Smarter I’d like to thank the board of directors for allowing me the time to share some of the latest scientific evidence that shows music making to be a vital part of the education of our children. It is not only enriching in its own right, but childhood music study helps develop intelligence. Here’s a quote from Joan Schmidt, a member of the board of directors of the National School Boards Association, in support of music programs in our schools. Quote, “The word is out: Researchers have discovered a way to make kids smarter. And savvy parents are signing their children up for private music lessons while school boards debate the role of music in the public school curriculum. “Statistics indicate that students who participate in music earn higher grades and score better on standardized tests. Do the brighter students gravitate toward music, or does music make the students brighter? Now there is powerful evidence of a cause and effect link between music instruction and intelligence,” end quote. A Research Review

Scientific Research Shows Music Study Helps Young Brains Develop... Music is a basic building block of intelligence Playing music develops critical neural connections Until recently, our belief that learning music is good for our kids has been based on logic, tradition and personal observations of our own sons and daughters. In the last five years, the startling results of a number of scientific studies are building a mountain of evidence that music instruction is not only inherently worthy, but that it helps young minds grow and flourish. This research has covered a wide range of topics from music’s role as a primal math and language skill to the fascinating way that music can promote the growth of neural connections in the brain. As Albert Einstein said over 70 years ago, “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music, I see my life in terms of music.”

Benefits of Music Study... Improves Spatial Reasoning Improves Flexibility of Thought Builds Abstract Reasoning Skills Develops Good Work Habits Music instruction trains the mind in many ways beyond learning to play a musical instrument. Studying an instrument increases spatial-temporal reasoning skills — our ability to visualize in space and time. It’s an important skill in solving math and engineering problems and in understanding fractions and proportions. Music students develop the mental flexibility to think and read ahead while performing a precise task in the present. As students begin to compose and improvise, they learn to consider options in real time and make quick decisions. Since music is a language in its own right, musicians learn to think in pitches, timbres and tempos without the aid of words and sentences. Translating these musical thoughts into the act of playing an instrument introduces young minds to thinking in the abstract. Musicians practice in order to master a piece of music. The discipline and honest self-evaluation required is excellent training for any future activity. All of these skills are necessary for success in the 21st century workplace and we want our kids to have every opportunity to succeed.

Music Prepares Kids for Science & Math Piano instruction improves math centers of the brain Preschoolers perform 34% higher in spatial-temporal tests During their extensive research with children, psychologist Dr. Frances Rauscher of the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh and physicist Dr. Gordon Shaw of the University of California at Irvine noticed that kids who played music seemed to have better math skills. That observation led to a study in which preschoolers were divided into three groups: One group received private piano keyboard lessons and singing lessons. A second group received private computer lessons. The third group received no special training. Those children who received piano/keyboard training performed 34% higher on tests measuring spatial-temporal ability than the others — even those who received computer training. “Spatial-temporal” is basically proportional reasoning — ratios, fractions, proportions and thinking in space and time. These difficult concepts have long been considered major obstacles in the teaching of elementary math and science.

Music Training Helps Under-Achievers Music and visual arts training given to under-performing first graders After 7 months art students surpass peers in math tests Marked improvement in behavior and attitude In Rhode Island, researchers studied eight public school first grade classes. Half of the classes became “test arts” groups, receiving ongoing music and visual arts training. In kindergarten, this group had lagged behind the others in scholastic performance. After seven months, all the students were given a standardized test. The “test arts” group had caught up to their fellow students in reading and surpassed their classmates in math by 22%. In the second year of the project, the arts students widened this margin even further. Students were also evaluated on attitude and behavior and their classroom teachers noted improvement in these areas also.

Music Helps Students Grasp Math Eighth, quarter and half notes used to teach fractions Test group scored 100% better in math skill In a recent study, second and third-grade students were taught fractions by learning basic music rhythm notation. The group was taught about the relationships between eighth, quarter, half and whole notes. Their peers received traditional fraction instruction. When tested, the students who were exposed to the music-based lessons scored a full 100% higher on fractional math tests than those who learned in the conventional manner. One of the researchers points out that, “It has been clearly documented that young students have difficulty understanding the concepts of proportion and that no successful program has been developed to teach these concepts in the school system.” Perhaps music is the key.

High School Music Makers’ Test Scores Higher Dept. of Educ. tracked 25,000 students over ten years Music-making students outperformed non-musical peers Results same for all socio- economic groups UCLA professor, Dr. James Catterall, led an analysis of a U.S. Department of Education database used to track more than 25,000 students over a period of ten years. The study showed that students involved in music generally tested higher than those who had no music involvement. The test scores studied were not only standardized tests, such as the SAT, but also reading proficiency exams. The study also noted that the musicians scored higher, no matter what socio-economic group was being studied.

Music Students Score Higher SATs Average 52 points higher in verbal Average 36 points higher in math The College Entrance Examination Board reports, “Students of the arts continue to outperform their non-arts peers on the SAT. In 1996, SAT takers with coursework/experience in music performance scored 51 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 36 points higher on the math portion than students with no coursework/experience in the arts.” Longer arts study proved to result in even higher test scores. The study goes on to say that, “Those who studied the arts four or more years scored 59 points higher on verbal and 41 points higher on math portions than students with no coursework or experience in the arts.” It’s startling to think that music study could make the difference in gaining admission to a student’s college of choice.

Music Students Enjoy Greater College Success Music majors are better readers Music majors are most successful med school applicants And once musically trained students get to college, they continue to do better, especially music majors. A study of 7,500 university students revealed that music majors scored the highest reading scores among all majors including English, biology, chemistry and math. Also, physician and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found that 66% of music majors who applied to med school were admitted, the highest percentage of any group. By comparison, 44% of biochemistry majors were admitted.

Student Musicians Less Likely To Have Alcohol Problems Study of 362 college-age students at University of Texas Music-makers less likely to abuse all substances According to a study conducted at the University of Texas, college-aged music students have fewer problems with alcohol, are emotionally healthier, and concentrate better than their non-musical counterparts. Dr. Kris Chesky, one of the study’s researchers commented, “This study is interesting on many levels. First of all, it flies in the face of all the stereotypes out there about musicians. It also seems to support the assertion that studying music helps people learn to concentrate.” The study looked at 362 students who were in their first semester of college. They were given three tests, measuring performance anxiety, emotional concerns and alcohol related problems. In addition to having fewer battles with the bottle, researchers also noted that the musicians seemed to have surer footing when facing tests.

Music Making Develops The Brain in Many Ways Better Math Skills Better Reading Skills Better Social Skills There are dozens of other studies that arrive at similar conclusions — music making helps the brain develop in many positive ways. Not all research is infallible, but with so many studies indicating the relationship of music making to academic achievement, we feel that the case for music instruction is compelling. When we consider the challenges that our children will face in the workplace of the new millennium, music deserves a fair place in our school curriculum. This enlightening information leads us to our statement of belief...

What We Support Music is a core subject It should be taught to all students It should be taught in all grades We support music as a core subject, just like reading, science and math. It should be taught to all students in all grades in a sequential program by qualified teachers. Music instruction is not a frill or extra-curricular activity.

Give Our Children the Advantages of Music Playing a musical instrument can help our kids become better students and better citizens We hope this presentation has brought new information to the attention of the board and ask that the board does all it can to support music in our district. It’s our belief that playing a musical instrument can help our kids become better thinkers, better communicators and better citizens. We all share a responsibility to the future to assure that our children are prepared to thrive in the demanding environment of the 21st century. Thank you for your time and attention.

Learning Music Can Make Kids Smarter A Research Review