1. Nina Balbo

2. Introduction Studying in the arts has been proven as an important part in developing children’s intellectual development. Many colleges believe participation in music or related subjects “broadens understanding and appreciation of the world”. At the same time music can also be damaging or beneficial to you.

3. Academic Educationally, there are 6 subjects that colleges recognize as essential. The arts/music is one of the 6. A study was done with 2 groups of college students. The first group listened to Mozart before taking an IQ test while other group did not. The results showed that the group listening to Mozart had the highest average score. Students taking music courses score higher than those without. Students studying music scored higher in the SAT. Music performance students scored 53 points higher on the verbal and 39 points higher on the math. Music appreciation students scored 61 points higher on the verbal and 42 points higher on the math.

4. Academic According to a National Study done in 1988… Music students received more academic honors, including more scores of A’s, A/B’s, B’s compared to non-music students. Another percentage shows the number of music majors as 66 % that are accepted as medical students. Lastly, listening to “steady tempo” music can increase your ability to remember things by 92%.

5. The Brain The University of Montreal studied brain activity during certain tasks and concluded that… sight-reading musical scores and playing music “activates regions in all four of the cortex’s lobes” and “parts of the cerebellum are also activated during those tasks.” -Sergent, E. Zuck, S. Tenial, and B. MacDonnall Researchers in Leipzig used brain scans to determine that musicians had a larger planum temporal. The planum temporal is related with reading skills. In this study it was also decided that musicians had a thicker corpus callosum. This is the nerve fibers that connect the two halves of the brain.

6. Health As most people know, music can increase your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, change your mood and so on… Everyone responds to music differently. Rhythm is an important aspect of how we perceive music as it helps to organize physical movements. Yet, an off beat or quick rhythm can upset balance of the body and increase blood pressure, tension, and pulse. While at the same time, listening to music can be positive to your health. For example: reduce chronic pain from a range of conditions including: osteoarthritis, 21% disc problems, 21% rheumatoid arthritis, 21% Depression, 25%,

7. Health Studies show that tempo is the aspect of a song that affects you, not the style. Researchers gathered a group of men and women, half of which were trained musicians. Each listened to 6 types of music, from rap to classical with two minute pauses between songs. Results showed that they had a faster heart and breathing rate when listening to lively music. As the music got slower, so did their heart and breathing rates. Whether or not a person liked the style of music did not matter. The tempo, or pace, of the music had the greatest effect on relaxation.

8. Benefits 53% of Americans over the age of 12 are current or former music makers Art education gives students the skills they need in a workplace: the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence As well as listening to a choice of music boosts creativity and allows your mind to expand on thoughts. Music develops a positive attitude in the listeners and provides them with motivation.

9. The Negative Some types of music can cause the brain to lose it's symmetry between it's right and left hemispheres. It happens all the time, when trying to do something while listening to loud or disruptive music. Focusing then becomes very difficult. Two genres of music that affect the brain this way are: Rap Heavy Rock It could be the beat or constant repetition that leads to anger or hostility.

10. Conclusion Then again, the listener’s state of mind has to do with the type of music you listen to. For example: Heavy, loud music may be the only outlet for someone to “drain” their anger. While it could create anger in another listener. In the end, music is universally shared and understood. It plays a huge role in daily life.

11. Bibliography http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/f actsandstatistics.html http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/f actsandstatistics.html http://www.brainhealthandpuzzles.com/effects_music _brain.html http://www.brainhealthandpuzzles.com/effects_music _brain.html http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n15/mente/musica.h tml http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n15/mente/musica.h tml http://www.emedexpert.com/tips/music.shtml http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=82 094 http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=82 094