Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Peggy Chen: Music


Name: Peggy Chen

Essay: Should music cooperate in school?

Nowadays, most parents are only focusing on their children’s academic education and thinking music is less important in the overall school curriculum. Some schools are even cutting back on the budget in the music curriculum and emphasizing other curriculum much more than music. People always think that intelligence only comes with plug away at their academic. However, why music should be incorporated in school curricula?

Music is really important to our children. According to the scientists, the brain circuits may be stimulated in a way that nerve pathways are strengthened when in musical training. These pathways appear to be the same ones when spatial reasoning tasks are performed. Scientists also have discovered that music training has significant influences on the brain development. Learning or listening to music is highly advantageous for children. Moreover, music may enhance children’s mathematical skills, spatial ability, and analytical skill as well as learning how to learn new things. Listening to classical music, particularly music composed by Mozart, may improve children’s ability to perform certain tasks. More than that, music may also increase children’s self-esteem that is a great impact on children’s growth in physical, emotional and spiritual. The research found that a child with low self-esteem may be afraid to try new things or meet new people.

Music is an essential lesson to be included in school curriculum. Scientists have revealed that music and mathematic are in the same part of the brain right next to each other. Taking music lessons show grater improvement in IQ scores, particularly in mathematics and language. In Providence, Rhode Island, USA, Martin Gardiner conducted experiment to investigate the impact of music on mathematic and language ability. Children who were six to seven years old received music lessons for 7 months. At the end of the test period, the results showed that children’s mathematic and language competence had improved. In addition, learning and understanding music affects much in children’s personality development. The studies have shown that listening to classical music helps children enhance their concentration and patience, as well as develop team work skills and efficient communications. Music is not only a tool, but it also provides a break for children from academic instruction. Children always feel joyful when they play or listen to music. Music really has a great power to soothe and inspire children, also release their pressure.

It’s clear that music is good for children’s development. School is a significant place in the lives of all children; therefore, a comprehensive school curriculum should not only emphasize academic but also music. Without doubt, it is essential that music should be taught throughout the school curriculum, and not just in separate areas such as orchestra.

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