bluzlvr
330 posts
Mar 02, 2010
2:50 PM
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This article was in yesterday's L.A. Times. Found it online and thought it might be of interest.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-0301-brain-music-20100301,0,4441386.story
http://www.myspace.com/jeffscranton
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2010 2:55 PM
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OzarkRich
132 posts
Mar 02, 2010
3:25 PM
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I wonder if this applies to guitar hero etc? It's not an instrument but it's not passive listening either and there is a direct correlation between the control and the music.
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Ozark Rich
YouTube: OzarkRich
Facebook: php?ref=profile&id=100000279894342
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Tryharp
288 posts
Mar 02, 2010
4:18 PM
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Thanks bluzlvr,
Interesting read
It doesnt really surprise me that learning an instrument sharpens up your brain, as it is really quite demanding. When you look at most good musicians, I bet there are hours of concentration on figuring things out, working out ways to break through barriers and plateaus, learing the theory of music - scales etc. This is all mental gymnastics.
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Greg Heumann
335 posts
Mar 02, 2010
10:34 PM
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This has been well understood for years. It is tragic that here in the U.S, arguably the richest country in the world, we are losing music programs in practically every school (and sports, and drama....) We have our priorities wrong.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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HarmonicaMick
115 posts
Mar 02, 2010
11:37 PM
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Greg,
It is similar in the UK. Except that, long ago, we even stopped teaching our kids to read, write or add up properly.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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phogi
298 posts
Mar 03, 2010
12:43 AM
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I'll try to say this without being cynical.
Once in a while I'll get a kid who drops out of music classes. I phone the parent to see what's up, and many times I hear, "Well, he's struggling in his other classes, and we want him in an easier class where he will have time to study." Other times I hear "Well, he just doesn't seem to be enjoying it right now."
A collegue of mine (who is one of the best teachers I've ever known) is just about ready to give up, because many of his students are dropping out, even talented kids. He calls the parents, they say things like "well, we want him/her to make his own choices."
A number of parents just don't think it's important to learn music.
@mick
For real?
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harmonicanick
643 posts
Mar 03, 2010
12:59 AM
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@phogi
Yes, mick is for real.
However it's not that simple.
My son teaches 8-10 year olds in North London, a very large majority of the children do not have English as their first language.
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HarmonicaMick
116 posts
Mar 03, 2010
4:46 AM
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@harmonicanick: yes, you're right; it's over 90% in some schools. Furthermore, overall, English is now a minority language in London schools. That is easy enough to verify, if you wanted to.
But in the UK education system, the rot set in decades ago. If memory serves, at present, 1 in 4 UK children, on leaving school, are deemed by the Powers That Be to be 'functionally illiterate'.
I have tried teaching music in school. The disciplne is so poor that the children are allowed to get away with murder - literally, in extremely rare cases. I could not teach in that environment, and I had the greatest respect for those who could.
I think that in Blighty, for a long time now, a musical education has been the preserve of the reasonably well off. Historically, that's nothing new. What is new, however, is the pretence by the authorities that anything has changed.
If anything, we've devolved.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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congaron
608 posts
Mar 03, 2010
7:52 AM
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I don't teach music at school, but find myself pushing kids and adults to learn it at my church. I see the parents encouraging sports over music. I know one family that insists on BOTH. No dropping of one for the other. Their kids are amazing people. It starts with the parents. Kids learn whatever you stress is important. They soak it up. So did you when you were a kid. It's a kids whole life...to learn for later. Music can even help those with learning disabilities. I teach a Sunday school class for special needs adults. The music we do blesses them and me. I find it is like a universal language. One of them plays the piano (he is also blind), one plays guitar a little, one drums and beatbox...(quite well) and they all sing.
I am going to help a guy with harmonic tomorrow after work..an adult in his 40's who has spent some cash on a special 20 and ordered a couple of books/cds i recommended. He has put his money where his mouth is and wants to have someone take a look and listen to make sure he is starting out right.
I have done this for years with guitar and vocals. It is like a ministry to me to complement my Christian Blues/rock band.
I think we should all reach out in any way we can to stress music to everyone we know. As for sports, many of mine have fallen by the wayside do to injuries in my early years and arthritis. The music never left me. That is one angle I use with parents and youth to keep them interested in both. Musical athletes are often very well rounded people.
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phogi
301 posts
Mar 03, 2010
1:25 PM
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@nick, mick
If teachers don't have the authority to hold discipline, NOTHING good can follow.
@conga
I think that's awesome. Teaching is about sharing the joy of life.
@original thread
Study after study correlates instrumental music with high achievement. It's not been established as cause and effect, but the correlation is WELL established.
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