Connected with Learning and the Brain
By Ann Smith
The Mozart Effect asserts, “In an instant, music can uplift our soul. It awakens within us the spirit of prayer, compassion, and love. It clears our minds and has been known to make us smarter.”
Music is a valued part of culture; it is a birthright of every child. In addition, learning music in school contributes to student achievement in four important categories:
Success in society
Success in school and learning
Success in developing intelligence
Success in life
Test Scores
Why do we want a high quality music education program in our schools? One reason would be that tests show students in top-quality music programs score better on the SAT as well as other standardized tests. In 2006, the “Journal of Research in Music Education” found that students in top-quality music programs scored 22 percent better in English and 20 percent better in Math. The College Board reported that same year that on the SAT, students who had experience in musical performance scored 57 percent higher on Verbal and 43 percent higher on Math.
According to the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2000,” the arts are classified as a “core academic subject.”
Earning Potential
A 2007 report from the “New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce” reported that high earnings are not just associated with people who have high technical skills. The mastery of the arts and humanities is just as closely correlated with high earnings.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said, “Ask CEOs what they are looking for in an employee, and they will say they need people who understand teamwork, who are disciplined, and who understand the big picture. You know what they need? They need musicians!”
Intellectual Development – The University of […]
