Students who study music tend to have larger vocabularies and more advanced reading skills than their peers who do not participate in music lessons. ~ Arete Music Academy. “Statistical benefits of music in education.” Arete Music Academy. Accessed July 17, 2014.
“Students of all ages – that includes adults – generally find that music helps them focus more clearly on the task at hand and puts them in a better mood for learning.” ~ Chris Brewer, founder of LifeSounds Educational Services, quoted in “Boost Memory and Learning with Music,” pbs.org, Cheri Lucas.
For today’s installment of the Director Spotlight, we interviewed Mrs. Candi Granlund, Band Director at Sycamore School in Indianapolis. In this segment of the interview, Candi offers her tip trying something new in the classroom! We hope you enjoy this edition of the Director Spotlight with Mrs. Candi Granlund.
Research indicates the brain of a musician, even a young one, works differently than that of a nonmusician. “There’s some good neuroscience research that children involved in music have larger growth of neural activity than people not in music training. When you’re a musician and you’re playing an instrument, you have to be using more of your brain.” ~ Dr. Eric Rasmussen, chair of the Early Childhood Music Department at the Peabody Preparatory of The John Hopkins University, quoted in “The Benefits of Music Education,” pbs.org, Laura Lewis Brown.
The cognitive structures developed through music instruction “exposed and illuminated more general organizing structures relevant for multiple disciplines. ~ Portowitz,P., Lichtenstein, O., Egorova, L., & Brand, E. (2009). Underlying mechanisms linking music education and cognitive modifiability. Research Studies in Music Education, 31, 107–29
Today we have for you the full spotlight interview with Mr. Rob Shaver. Rob is the band director at Tipton Middle School in Tipton, Indiana. We hope you enjoy this installment of the director spotlight.
An analysis of data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 demonstrated a significant correlation between participation in school music groups and achievement in math and English. ~ Broh, B. A. (2002). Linking extracurricular programming to academic achievement: Who benefits and why? Sociology of Education, 75(1), 69-95
“A broad education in the arts helps give children a better understanding of their world…We need students who are culturally literate as well as math and science literate.” ~ Paul Ostergard, Vice President, Citicorp
This week’s spotlight tip is from Rob Shaver at Tipton Middle School. Rob talks about how he handles today’s challenges and how he adapts to different situations in the classroom. Thanks for joining us and we hope you enjoy this segment from the Director Spotlight!
Children from “arts-rich” public schools score higher on expression, risk-taking, creativity-imagination, cooperative learning, and academic self-concept than children in “arts-poor” systems. ~ “Learning In and Through the Arts: The Question of Transfer,” Judith M. Burton, Robert Horowitz, and Hal Abeles, Studies in Art Education, 2000, 41(3): 228-257
“An elementary school that treats the arts as the province of a few gifted children, or views them only as recreation and entertainment, is a school that needs an infusion of soul. That arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic.” ~ William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education
On today’s Director Spotlight Tip, Mr. Rob Shaver from Tipton Middle School talks with us about having student teachers in the classroom. Thanks for joining us and we hope you enjoy this segment from the Director Spotlight!
A study examined the influence of music education on nonmusical abilities, the effects of music lessons on academic performance, and cognitive abilities. The study revealed that students who participated in music lessons showed statistically higher intelligence quotients. ~ Glenn Schellenberg, Music Lessons Enhance IQ, Psychological Science, Vol. 15, No. 8, 2004
“GE hires a lot of engineers. We want young people who can do more than add up a string of numbers and write a coherent sentence. They must be able to solve problems, communicate ideas and be sensitive to the world around them. Participation in the arts is one of the best ways to develop these abilities.” ~ Clifford V. Smith, President of the General Electric Foundation
For today’s installment of the Director Spotlight we interviewed Mr. Rob Shaver, Band Director at Tipton Middle School in Tipton, Indiana. Rob is a 25 year veteran music educator who does a fantastic job teaching band. Today, he offers his take on how he keeps things fresh in the classroom. We hope you enjoy this edition of the Director Spotlight with Mr. Rob Shaver.
The vast majority —96 percent— of the school principals interviewed in a recent study agree that participation in music education encourages and motivates students to stay in school. Further, 89 percent of principals feel that a high-quality music education program contributes to their school achieving higher graduation rates. ~ Harris Interactive Poll, 2006
“I believe arts education in music, theater, dance, and the visual arts is one of the most creative ways we have to find the gold that is buried just beneath the surface. They (children) have an enthusiasm for life a spark of creativity, and vivid imaginations that need training – training that prepares them to become confident young men and women.” ~ Richard W. Riley, Former US Secretary of Education
Many directors express that this time of year is absolutely the busiest time of year. Sleep is minimal. The flu is abundant. And, sometimes, the “crazy” wins. With countless activities happening all at once in your program, it is difficult to stay on top of it all and still connect with kids. Today, we go back to a tip from Dean Westman, Director of Orchestras at Avon High School. Dean offered us his perspective on what he chooses to focus on through out the year. Next week, we will be back to our normal programing. In the meantime, stay warm and have a great week!
“To be the next great inventor of something we haven’t dreamed of yet, you need to have creative skills. Music really fosters those creative skills.” ~ Illinois Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon
“Music education opens doors that help children pass from school into the world around them – a world of work, culture, intellectual activity, and human involvement. The future of our nation depends on providing our children with a complete education that includes music.” ~ Gerald Ford, Former President of the United States
