Education

antigop

(12,778 posts) Thu Jun 19, 2014, 09:14 AM Jun 2014

New Evidence of Mental Benefits From Music Training

http://www.psmag.com/navigation/books-and-culture/new-evidence-brain-benefits-music-training-83761/

As we’ve reported, a large body of research has noted a link between music education and higher test scores. But precisely why learning an instrument would have a positive impact on academic achievement has never been clear.

A new study from Boston Children’s Hospital provides a possible answer. It reports musical training may promote the development and maintenance of a key set of mental skills.

These executive functions, which are coordinated in the brain’s frontal lobe, “allow for planned, controlled behavior,” writes a research team led by Harvard University scholar Nadine Gaab. They enable us to manage our time and attention, organize our thoughts, and regulate our behavior—abilities that are crucial to success in school, as well as later life.

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New Evidence of Mental Benefits From Music Training (Original Post) antigop Jun 2014 OP

There are years when music was the only thing keeping me sane Demeter Jun 2014 #1

And yet, the first thing to be cut from curriculum is art and music NV Whino Jun 2014 #2

Of course. We don't TEST art and music, so they don't "matter"! femmocrat Jun 2014 #3

My mood improves substantially after a day or so of Bach or Mozart dickthegrouch Jun 2014 #4

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2014 #5

Demeter

(85,373 posts)

1. There are years when music was the only thing keeping me sane

Reply to antigop (Original post)

Thu Jun 19, 2014, 09:39 AM

Jun 2014

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

2. And yet, the first thing to be cut from curriculum is art and music

Reply to antigop (Original post)

Thu Jun 19, 2014, 10:11 AM

Jun 2014

My "local"* classical station has promoted music in the classroom. They continually receive reports from teachers (and students) of improved concentration and better classroom behavior.

*Due to the Internet and cable, they are heard world wide, but they are located in San Francisco.

femmocrat

(28,394 posts)

3. Of course. We don't TEST art and music, so they don't "matter"!

Reply to NV Whino (Reply #2)

Thu Jun 19, 2014, 10:32 AM

Jun 2014

There have been studies linking all arts education to higher SAT scores. I don't know of any recent ones though. Art and music use higher-level thinking skills, not rote memorization, so the effect of brain stimulation seems evident.

dickthegrouch

(3,507 posts)

4. My mood improves substantially after a day or so of Bach or Mozart

Reply to antigop (Original post)

Thu Jun 19, 2014, 11:29 AM

Jun 2014

I feel better, think more clearly, and overall function better after a prolonged exposure to the classical great masters.

My mood plummets if I have to listen to Jazz or Blues.

Of course music is a good thing. But what do they keep? Football, a violent, ugly, incomprehensible, slow travesty of an educational^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H money-raising tool.

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