The pace of
scientific research into music making has never been greater. New data about
music’s relationship to brainpower, wellness and other phenomena is changing
the way we perceive mankind’s oldest art form, and it’s having a real-world
effect on decisions about educational priorities.
The briefs below
provide a glimpse into these exciting developments. For a more in-depth
treatment of current music science, visit
The International
Foundation for Music Research, and to see updates on the latest
findings, check the "Build Your Case" section of
SupportMusic.com.
Did You Know?
Middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental
music scored significantly higher than their non-band peers in standardized
tests. University studies conducted in Georgia and Texas found significant
correlations between the number of years of instrumental music instruction
and academic achievement in math, science and language arts.
Source: University of Sarasota Study, Jeffrey Lynn Kluball; East Texas
State University Study, Daryl Erick Trent
Did You Know?
Students who were exposed to the music-based lessons scored a full 100
percent higher on fractions tests than those who learned in the conventional
manner. Second-grade and third-grade students were taught fractions in an
untraditional manner ‹ by teaching them basic music rhythm notation. The
group was taught about the relationships between eighth, quarter, half and
whole notes. Their peers received traditional fraction instruction.
Source: Neurological Research, March 15, 1999
Did You Know?
Music majors are the most likely group of college grads to be admitted to
medical school. Physician and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the
undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found that 66 percent
of music majors who applied to med school were admitted, the highest
percentage of any group. For comparison, (44 percent) of biochemistry majors
were admitted. Also, a study of 7,500 university students revealed that
music majors scored the highest reading scores among all majors including
English, biology, chemistry and math.
Sources: "The Comparative Academic Abilities of Students in Education and
in Other Areas of a Multi-focus University," Peter H. Wood, ERIC Document
No. ED327480
"The Case for Music in the Schools," Phi Delta Kappan, February, 1994
Did You Know?
Music study can help kids understand advanced music concepts. A grasp of
proportional math and fractions is a prerequisite to math at higher levels,
and children who do not master these areas cannot understand more advanced
math critical to high-tech fields. Music involves ratios, fractions,
proportions and thinking in space and time. Second-grade students were given
four months of piano keyboard training, as well as time using newly designed
math software. The group scored over 27 percent higher on proportional math
and fractions tests than children who used only the math software.
Source: Neurological Research March, 1999
Did You Know?
A McGill University study found that pattern recognition and mental
representation scores improved significantly for students given piano
instruction over a three-year period. They also found that self-esteem and
musical skills measures improved for the students given piano instruction.
Source: Dr. Eugenia Costa-Giomi, "The McGill Piano Project: Effects of
three years of piano instruction on children's cognitive abilities, academic
achievement, and self-esteem," presented at the meeting of the Music
Educators National Conference, Phoenix, AZ, April, 1998
Did You Know?
Data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 showed that
music participants received more academic honors and awards than non-music
students, and that the percentage of music participants receiving As, As/Bs,
and Bs was higher than the percentage of non-participants receiving those
grades.
Source: National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 First Follow-Up
(1990), U.S. Department of Education.
Did You Know?
Research shows that piano students are better equipped to comprehend
mathematical and scientific concepts. A group of preschoolers received
private piano keyboard lessons and singing lessons. A second group received
private computer lessons. Those children who received piano/keyboard
training performed 34 percent higher on tests measuring spatial-temporal
ability than the others ‹ even those who received computer training.
"Spatial-temporal" is basically proportional reasoning - ratios, fractions,
proportions and thinking in space and time. This concept has long been
considered a major obstacle in the teaching of elementary math and science.
Source: Neurological Research February 28, 1997
Did You Know?
Young children with developed rhythm skills perform better academically in
early school years. Findings of a recent study showed that there was a
significant difference in the academic achievement levels of students
classified according to rhythmic competency. Students who were achieving at
academic expectation scored high on all rhythmic tasks, while many of those
who scored lower on the rhythmic test achieved below academic expectation.
Source: "The Relationship between Rhythmic Competency and Academic
Performance in First Grade Children," University of Central Florida, Debby
Mitchell
Did You Know?
High school music students score higher on SATs in both verbal and math than
their peers. In 2001, SAT takers with coursework/experience in music
performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 41
points higher on the math portion than students with no
coursework/experience in the arts.
Source: Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board,
compiled by Music Educators National Conference, 2001.
Did You Know?
College-age musicians are emotionally healthier than their non-musician
counterparts. A study conducted at the University of Texas looked at 362
students who were in their first semester of college. They were given three
tests, measuring performance anxiety, emotional concerns and alcohol related
problems. In addition to having fewer battles with the bottle, researchers
also noted that the college-aged music students seemed to have surer footing
when facing tests.
Source: Houston Chronicle, January 11, 1998
Did You Know?
A ten-year study, tracking more than 25,000 students, shows that
music-making improves test scores. Regardless of socioeconomic background,
music-making students get higher marks in standardized tests than those who
had no music involvement. The test scores studied were not only standardized
tests, such as the SAT, but also in reading proficiency exams.
Source: Dr. James Catterall, UCLA, 1997
Did You Know?
The world's top academic countries place a high value on music education.
Hungary, Netherlands and Japan stand atop worldwide science achievement and
have strong commitment to music education. All three countries have required
music training at the elementary and middle school levels, both instrumental
and vocal, for several decades. The centrality of music education to
learning in the top-ranked countries seems to contradict the United States'
focus on math, science, vocabulary, and technology.
Source: 1988 International Association for the Evaluation of Educational
Achievement (IAEEA) Test
Did You Know?
Music training helps under-achievers. In Rhode Island, researchers studied
eight public school first grade classes. Half of the classes became "test
arts" groups, receiving ongoing music and visual arts training. In
kindergarten, this group had lagged behind in scholastic performance. After
seven months, the students were given a standardized test. The "test arts"
group had caught up to their fellow students in reading and surpassed their
classmates in math by 22 percent. In the second year of the project, the
arts students widened this margin even further. Students were also evaluated
on attitude and behavior. Classroom teachers noted improvement in these
areas also.
Source: Nature May 23, 1996
Did You Know?
"Music education can be a positive force on all aspects of a child's life,
particularly on their academic success. The study of music by children has
been linked to higher scores on the SAT and other learning aptitude tests,
and has proven to be an invaluable tool in classrooms across the country.
Given the impact music can have on our children's education, we should
support every effort to bring music into their classrooms."
Source: U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Did You Know?
"The nation's top business executives agree that arts education programs can
help repair weaknesses in American education and better prepare workers for
the 21st century."
Source: "The Changing Workplace is Changing Our View of Education,"
Business Week, October 1996.
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