Music provides a rounded education

As a young person and concerned citizen of Lodi, I first want to say a hearty "thank you" to the volunteers willing to give of their time and talents to help preserve music as an important subject and heritage for our young students.

As a college student who has recently written a formal research paper on the academic and psychological benefits of music education, I know that many studies affirm how music helps nurture/educate the whole child. Many, including myself, are troubled that extreme measures are taken to preserve sports (expanding stadiums and more programs) so our youth can run into each other, bruise and injure themselves; yet music is taken away from those who, at such an impressionable age, could benefit from it most.

Realistically, how likely will sports ensure a nobler position (and a real pay check!) in life for the average student? Instead, let us invest in a holistic and quality education. Music, as the "universal language," may be our greatest ally for "bridging the gap" in education and helping future generations value teamwork, diversity and culture in a time when we need it most.

Sarah Sinz
Lodi

Reader Feedback

dogbark wrote on Aug 11, 2009 10:08 PM:

" who will bring the bestus footbaw boyz out on the filed with fanfare if we have no band? "

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Gator wrote on Aug 9, 2009 7:25 PM:

" Dogs you call Rap music !! Bite your
tongue... "

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dogs4you wrote on Aug 9, 2009 12:38 PM:

" wtf, if what you say is true, evidently the reverse happens when a 17 year old mom to be listens to rap, get a cell ready?????? "

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Gator wrote on Aug 9, 2009 9:29 AM:

" I really wonder why Music and art are the first things to go when times get tough? A close personal friend Is a Graphic artist/Sign Painter whose business is in the high six figures got his start in elementary school in
Redding California.. If one wants to be a Music Major in college shouldn’t
they get a start in primary school. Time and Time again studies have proven
Art and Music produce better well rounded students who have a desire to succeed…That is what Education is all about. Success, it sets a course to
follow through life… "

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wtf wrote on Aug 8, 2009 4:13 PM:

" As well as after a child is born:

"Can listening to music actually make smarter adults of the future? Recent data from the University of Texas indicated that those students who received an arts education that included music received higher SAT scores. Many studies have shown that music can benefit cognitive abilities, particularly spatial abilities, higher reasoning and motor skills, and higher achievements in language and math."

Exploring the Effects of Music on Young Children

http://www.more4kids.com/Articles/article1009.htm "

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wtf wrote on Aug 8, 2009 4:12 PM:

" Excellent letter, Sarah, and so true! This even applies **before** birth.

"One recent study demonstrates that children exposed to classical music in the womb show a positive change in physical and mental development after birth. In this experiment, fetuses were exposed to 70 hours of classical music during the last weeks of pregnancy. When studied at six months, these babies were more advanced in terms of motor, linguistic and intellectual development than babies who received no musical stimulus during pregnancy."

Rest of article:

Your Baby Needs Music
Classical Music Can Affect Brain, Body, And Soul

http://www.tinylove.com/article.aspx?articleId=29 "

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