Posted on 06/30/2019 6:09:40 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
High schoolers who take music courses score significantly better on exams in certain other subjects, including math and science, than their non-musical peers, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association.
"It is believed that students who spend school time in music classes, rather than in further developing their skills in math, science and English classes, will underperform in those disciplines. Our research suggests that, in fact, the more they study music, the better they do in those subjects."
"Students who participated in music, who had higher achievement in music, and who were highly engaged in music had higher exam scores across all subjects, while these associations were more pronounced for those who took instrumental music rather than vocal music," he said. "On average, the children who learned to play a musical instrument for many years, and were now playing in high school band and orchestra, were the equivalent of about one academic year ahead of their peers with regard to their English, mathematics and science skills, as measured by their exam grades."
Apart from the strength of the associations, the researchers were most surprised by the consistency of the associations across all three subject areas (math, science and English).
"Learning to play a musical instrument and playing in an ensemble is very demanding. A student has to learn to read music notation, develop eye-hand-mind coordination, develop keen listening skills, develop team skills for playing in an ensemble and develop discipline to practice. All those learning experiences play a role in enhancing children's cognitive capacities and their self-efficacy," he said. "It is that high levels of music engagement for which we saw the strongest effects."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Ok, thanks.
High school marching and concert band had a lot of kids who were good at math, science, and English Lit, and History. In other words, there were lots of A students in the band program. There were lots more girls in the advanced reading level English Lit. than in advanced math or advanced science. Most of the band kids (male and female) who were good at science and math were good with English and History.
This is news? I remember hearing this in the 1960s.
Its crap. Asians are good at classical music and math. But if you take all the black students you will find your this theory goes to hell. A good example of correlation not causality.
This makes sense. The whole concept of musical keys has a lot of math-like elements to it.
I don’t know what parents do when they neglect to teach music. There is a treasure trove of American music and shows to present to kids which includes an education in American history, cultural icons and language plus music.
There are Yamaha and Suzuki programs that teach preschoolers to read music and to play the piano and violin at the developmental stage of learning language.
What are people so busy doing that they don’t get their kids to learn an instrument
I know a kid who did Yamaha piano then violin during elementary school who did not pursue music but who has a perfect ear, singing voice and who knows the difference between popular music crap versus good music.
Spoke three languages fluently by the age of 21
How much income does it take to teach a kid piano? And why do parents not do this
The Eastern European immigrants who occupied the lower east side during the first part of the 20th century knew music. They wrote all our musical they created a world of comedy, drama theater. They were inventors. They were not wealthy.
I agree - correlation makes more sense.
I do remember tho’, in 5th or 6th grade, we did an experiment in our class. We took a series of mathematical tests, some with music (classical) playing, some with no music. The tests were not identical, but all on the same difficulty level. The scores on the music playing tests were higher across the board than the non-music tests. Not a huge difference, but definitely notable.
Oy frikin vey
Why do Americans take on one interest only then try to become superstars or at least neglect all other interests? Why do Americans think one cannot be educated in music but have a different profession?
Music opens and develops the mind
Here’s Einstein:
“Life without playing music is inconceivable for me,” he declared. “I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music ... I get most joy in life out of music.”
Cause or effect?
actually, music is math in motion. Like astronomy.
OK, but now back to reality: Who needs a study for this.
Anybody with common sense can see that diligent practice in one discipline helps achievement in another?
There are tons of black students who are good at classical music?
I think if you define rap as music, the theory would go to hell. But then, rap is hell.
Neither could I. But I was a drummer. Didn’t need to. Just the time signature. Upbeat or downbeat. 2/4 or 4/4.
I think that it has to do with conceptualizing complex structures.
The real goal of the study is near the end of the article:
The “researchers” don’t want funding for school music programs cut.
For years now, the Dems have been talking up music education.
Why? Because they don’t want the money train to stop.
Primarily yes. You really to have to have an innate talent for it. For just about anything concerning arts, music and acting.
Not sure what you’re oy frikin vey about. You like music and music develops the mind. I agree. How much income does it take to teach a kid piano? And why do parents not do this?
“Primarily yes. You really to have to have an innate talent for it. For just about anything concerning arts, music and acting.”
Is that a fact?
It’s not true as far as professional, educated music teachers I have known have stated
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