what i have found...
Most of us would never think that the work done in a middle school or high school band room actually benefits a student in their other classes. I set out to prove that there is in fact a very substantial benefit from being in the school band. In a Ted Ed video, Anita Collins talks about the affect of music on the brain. This idea assisted me in proving that band is potentially the most beneficial subject in all of middle/high school. When conducting my research, I focused on three main points: how band facts a student socially, how playing an instrument affect brain function, and finally how those factors help a student in other school subjects.
The affect band has on a students social life can be easily observed in the band room. The band program forms a cohesive group of friends that stick together all the way through high school. This is because the kids all have to work hard and rely on each other to make a finished product together. This finished product can be seen at any of the band concerts throughout the school year. So, band is essentially a giant year-long group project that every single student must contribute to in order to make great performances that others can enjoy. When talking to some of the kids about how band has affected them socially, the most common response I received was that they loved the idea of everyone coming together to make something that their community could enjoy. Apart from being absolutely adorable, this answer supports my theory that band is the most beneficial program in all of middle and high school.
Our brains do amazing things. Thats a given. But when someone is playing their instrument, their brain is working on overdrive to process musical aspects like timbre, time, and pitch.When our brain is working, it is actually making millions of electrical connections. These can be seen and measured with an MRI machine. When scientists viewed a subjects brain while they were working long division math problems, they saw a few specific areas of the brain that are connected to reasoning and problem solving light up. When they viewed the brain of someone who was listening to music, they saw considerably more of the brain being used to process what they were listening to. But, when they observed the brain of someone who was playing an instrument, they were dumbfounded. To begin with, it was estimated that the only the parts of the brain related to sight, sound, and motor skills were at work when playing music. The scientists found that when someone is playing an instrument, nearly every part of the brain was working. Its really amazing stuff.
So, how does music help other subjects? I'll tell you. Since the entire brain is working when you are playing music, it is almost like taking your brain to the gym. Just like with normal exercising, when the brain is challenged and strained, it becomes stronger. Therefore, when music exercises all of the brain, it is working the parts that relate to math, reading, and all other school subjects that require thinking.
The affect band has on a students social life can be easily observed in the band room. The band program forms a cohesive group of friends that stick together all the way through high school. This is because the kids all have to work hard and rely on each other to make a finished product together. This finished product can be seen at any of the band concerts throughout the school year. So, band is essentially a giant year-long group project that every single student must contribute to in order to make great performances that others can enjoy. When talking to some of the kids about how band has affected them socially, the most common response I received was that they loved the idea of everyone coming together to make something that their community could enjoy. Apart from being absolutely adorable, this answer supports my theory that band is the most beneficial program in all of middle and high school.
Our brains do amazing things. Thats a given. But when someone is playing their instrument, their brain is working on overdrive to process musical aspects like timbre, time, and pitch.When our brain is working, it is actually making millions of electrical connections. These can be seen and measured with an MRI machine. When scientists viewed a subjects brain while they were working long division math problems, they saw a few specific areas of the brain that are connected to reasoning and problem solving light up. When they viewed the brain of someone who was listening to music, they saw considerably more of the brain being used to process what they were listening to. But, when they observed the brain of someone who was playing an instrument, they were dumbfounded. To begin with, it was estimated that the only the parts of the brain related to sight, sound, and motor skills were at work when playing music. The scientists found that when someone is playing an instrument, nearly every part of the brain was working. Its really amazing stuff.
So, how does music help other subjects? I'll tell you. Since the entire brain is working when you are playing music, it is almost like taking your brain to the gym. Just like with normal exercising, when the brain is challenged and strained, it becomes stronger. Therefore, when music exercises all of the brain, it is working the parts that relate to math, reading, and all other school subjects that require thinking.
Articles (annotated bibliographies)
The Benefits of Music Education | |
File Size: | 74 kb |
File Type: | docx |
This is Your Brain On Misic | |
File Size: | 64 kb |
File Type: | docx |