down with music

Two college students escaped from their couch this past week. Witnesses say the simply got up and walked away from the TV. After a bit of searching, they were later found in a garage, expressing themselves creatively.

When interrogated, both suspects simply hummed a melody or air drummed until released on probation.

Students were given four months of piano keyboard training, as well as time using newly designed math software. The group scored over 27% higher on proportional math and fractions tests than students who used only the math software.

Music involves ratios, fractions, proportions and thinking in space and time

Temporal Animation Reasoning (STAR) – allows people to solve geometric and math puzzles that boost their ability to manipulate shapes in their minds.

The findings are significant because a grasp of proportional math and fractions is a prerequisite to math at higher levels, and students who do not master these areas of math cannot understand more advanced math critical to high-tech fields.

How does sensory and motor development influence cognitive, perception and language skills?

That was the question asked by Debby Mitchell at the University of Central Florida in her study. The study explored the cognitive-motor link, and how sensory and motor development may influence cognitive, perception and language skills. Findings showed that there was a significant difference in the academic achievement levels of students classified according to rhythmic competency. Students who were achieving at academic expectation scored high on all rhythmic tasks, while many of those who scored lower on the rhythmic test achieved below academic expectation.

The study concludes that the large percentage of students who are achieving below academic expectation are lacking in foundation skills that should have been developed at an earlier time.

According to a Gallup Survey, Americans hold music and music-making in high regard

Percentage of Americans who believe:

• Music is part of a well-rounded education - 95%
• Music brings the family together - 90%
• School band is a good way for young people to develop teamwork skills - 97%
• Music helps instill an appreciation of arts and culture - 96%

Regardless of socioeconomic background, music-making students get higher marks in standardized tests.

UCLA professor, Dr. James Catterall, led an analysis of a U.S. Department of Education database. Called NELLs88, the database was 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 in reading proficiency exams. The study also noted that the musicians scored higher, no matter what socioeconomic group was being studied.