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[
Research ]
MUSIC MAKES YOU SMARTER
Can learning music really make you smarter?
The Australian Keyboard Academy supports the view that
students who learn music or keyboard instruments at an early age out-perform
students who do not learn music in areas of intelligence, developmental skills, academic performance,
and social skills. Furthermore, they
are able to transfer their music knowledge and skills to other areas of academic excellence.
The benefit of music education in children's lives has
been widely publicised for over 20 years. Although the literature is supportive
of music education and is exciting for music educators, we must be cautious that more
research is needed to fully understand the benefits of music education in
children.
The Australian Keyboard Academy is actively involved in
music education research. Through our research, we can ensure that all our
students are provided with the highest standard of music education and that our
teaching is up-to-date with current trends in music pedagogy. Research indicates
that for music education to make a positive impact on a child's life and
development, their music education must involve a comprehensive mix of
creativity, singing, active participation, ear-training, improvisation and
opportunity. Furthermore, in order for children to fully benefit from music
education, it is important that they are taught by trained and qualified music
educators (see Teacher
Profile).
At the Australian Keyboard Academy we believe our
exclusive EKCOI™
philosophy and
Multi-Level Achievement Program ensures students are provided with
the best possible comprehensive music program in Australia.
If you would like more information on the benefits of
music education see the MENC Website,
www.menc.org, the MuSICA Website,
www.musica.uci.edu,
or contact our office on 9310 9532 or send us an email regarding your inquiry
to:
lorenzo@auskeyboardacademy.com.au.
Piano Boosts Students Math Achievement By
Lorenzo Capitanio
For more Papers Click
Research
Below are a number of quotes from the literature that
provide evidence of the benefit music education has in young children.
- "Dr.
Rauscher found that students in Group Piano-Keyboard tuition outscored those who
received no formal music training by 48% on spatial reasoning test" (Demorest &
Morrison; 2000:35).
- "Children who study music tend to do better
academically than those who do not study music. And they tend to behave more
responsibly as students if given the opportunity to study music - even if they
are from at-risk populations" Wilcox, (1999;33).
- Students with course work or experience in music
performance scored 53 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 39
points higher on the math portion than students with no course work or
experience in the arts. Scores for those with course work in music appreciation
were 61 points higher on the verbal portion and 42 points higher on the math
portion. - The College Board, 1999.
- Music participants received more academic honours and
awards than nonmusic students, and the percentage of music participants
receiving As, As/Bs, and Bs was higher than the percentage of non-participants
receiving those grades. - NELS:88 (National Education Longitudinal Study), First
Follow-up, 1990, National Center for Education Statistics Washington, D.C.
- "Studies that reveal significant changes in Children's
spatial and cognitive development almost all involve the child as actor, not
spectator. This is also true of preschoolers through mid-elementary children.
The more a child participates, the more wonder and learning he or she
experiences" Wilcox; 1999:31).
- Brain imagery has shown increases in parts of the
cerebral hemisphere and in the thickness of neural fibers connecting the two
sides of the brain in children who begin stringed-instrument or keyboard study
before the age of seven compared to children who are not exposed to this kind of
learning. Some scientists theorize that young keyboard and stringer players are
using both hands in ways that twentieth-century American children usually don't
have to do" Wilcox; 1999:32).
- "Music study helps children develop intellectually in
ways that help their musical abilities - and other abilities, as well" (Wilcox;
1999:34).
- A group of second-grade students who were given four
months of piano keyboard training, as well as exposure to math puzzle software,
scored 27% higher on proportional math and fractions test than children who
received no special instruction. - Neurological Research, March 15, 1999.
- General and spatial cognitive development scores
improved significantly for students given piano instruction over the first two
years of a three-year period. - Journal of Research in Music Education, Fall
1999.
- The area of the brain used to analysis musical pitch is
on average 25% larger in musicians. The younger the child is when musical
training begins, the larger the area. - Nature, April 23, 1998.
- After six months of piano lessons, preschoolers had
spatial-temporal IQ scores (important for some types of mathematical reasoning)
that were 34% higher than those of students who received computer training
instead of music training. - Neurological Research, February 28, 1997.
- When music and visual arts training was given to
underperforming first grades for seven months, they caught up with classmates
who were without arts training and subsequently surpassed them by 22% in
measures of math competency. The students also showed a marked improvement in
behaviour and attitude. Nature, May 23, 1996.
- "Participation in music can help students learn to work
together toward common goals, resolve conflict, and find new solutions to
problems" (Wilcox; 1999:35).
- The U.S Department of Education lists the arts as
subjects that college-bound middle and high school take, stating, "It is also
well known and widely recognized that the arts contributes significantly to
children's intellectual development".
- The College Board identifies that arts as one of the
six basic academic subject areas student should study in order to succeed in
college. - Perceptual and Motor Skills, April 1993.
- Music is about communication, creativity, and
cooperation, and by studying music music in school, students have the
opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the
world from a new perspective. - Bill Clinton, Former President of the United
States of America (Wilcox; 1999:35).
Wilcox, E. (1999). "Straight talk about music and brain
research", Teaching Music, 7(3), December: 29-35.
Demorest, S.M. & Morrison, S.J. (2000), "Does music make
you smarter?", Music Educators Journal, 87(2), September: 33-39.
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