Music and Your Child

MUSIC IS IMPORTANT!!! READ ON...

SUPPORTING MUSIC LEARNING

We are very excited about the music program at Three Oaks Middle School. The success we enjoy is a direct reflection of the students who participate in our music education curriculum. It is a particular delight to have your child as a part of our musical family.
There are many benefits that result from the study of music. The aesthetic joys of music making cannot be duplicated in any other art form; it is a communication unto itself. It also has been found that the study of music strengthens the mind's learning potential. The students who are part of a music program tend to achieve at higher levels in all areas of school. Simply put: music makes better students, and music makes students better. Ongoing research continues to offer dramatic statistics concerning young people who participate in their school music programs. In the 1997 publication, Profiles of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, (from The College Board), it was discovered that, "Students with course work experience in music performance scored 89 points higher on the SAT tests than students with no course work in the arts." This kind of information clearly and positively marks the future of our young musicians.
Parents need to know that their child's educational experience is designed to create a solid foundation. This foundation may be used for advanced education and, more importantly, as a training ground for developing successful life-patterns. The very qualities that are essential for success in business and education such as analytical skills, self-discipline, communication skills and creative thinking are the foundation blocks of our music program. What your child is learning in music is preparing him/her for a more prosperous and enjoyable life.

Music Students Have Higher Test Scores!

Did you know that music could help children in their studies? Well, several studies have concluded that it can! Here are some quotes from various articles on the subject.
1. On the basis of observations and experiments with newborns, neuroscientists now know that infants are born with neural mechanisms devoted exclusively to music. Studies show that early and ongoing musical training helps organize and develop children's brains. -"The Musical Mind," Susan Black, The American School Board Journal, January 1997.
2. Two research projects have found that music training--specifically piano instruction--can dramatically enhance children's spatial-temporal reasoning skills, the skills crucial for greater success in subjects like math and science. - Neurological Research, February 1997; Rauscher and Shaw, and Neurological Research, March 1999; Shaw, Graziano, and Peterson.
3. School leaders affirm that the single most critical factor in sustaining arts education in their schools is the active involvement of influential segments of the community in shaping and implementing the policies and programs of the district. - Gaining The Arts Advantage: Lessons From School Districts That Value Arts Education, President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and Arts Education Partnership, 1999.
4. Physician and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found that 66 percent of music majors who applied to medical school were admitted, the highest percentage of any group. Forty-four percent of biochemistry majors were admitted, as reported in "The Case for Music in the Schools," Phi Delta Kappan, February 1994.
5. Students who study music and the arts score higher on the verbal and math portions of the SAT than students with no coursework or experience in the arts. - Profiles of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board, 1998.
6. A 1997 Gallup Survey on Americans' attitudes towards music revealed that 89% of respondents believe music helps a child's overall development and 93% agree that music is part of a well-rounded education. - Americans' Attitudes Towards Music, The Gallup Organization, 1997.
7. The very best engineers and technical designers in the Silicon Valley are, nearly without exception, practicing musicians. -Grant Venerable, "The Paradox of the Silicon Savior," as reported in "The Case for Sequential Music Education in the Core Curriculum of the Public Schools," The Center for the Arts in the Basic Curriculum", New York, 1989.
8. The publication Academic Preparation for College: What Students Need To Know and Be Able To Do states "preparation in the arts will be valuable to college entrants whatever their intended field of study." - The College Board, New York, 1983 [still in use].
9. An education in the arts readily engages a wide variety of learning styles and increases learning potential for students. Schools who have integrated music and the arts into the curriculum have seen an increase in test scores and student attendance and a decrease in dropout rates. - "The Arts and Student Achievement: Ideas for Schools and Communities," background paper for the Goals 2000 Satellite Town Meeting, ArtsEdge.

WHY SING IN A CHOIR?
WHY PLAY IN AN ORCHESTRA?
WHY PLAY IN A GUITAR ENSEMBLE?

I believe that every child can learn, and extend that belief to the certainty that every child is musically expressive and deserves the opportunity to explore that capability. To that end, our program offers non-auditioned choirs for the hesitant music learner as well as challenging organizations for the highly skilled or gifted musician. Throughout the year we will address the individual by developing vocal/playing skills, increasing knowledge of his/her own instrument, developing music literacy and providing opportunities for solo performances. In addition, we will address the ensemble by developing group cohesiveness, building choral/instrumental skills and fostering pride in their participation.
Why is it so important for your child to be in Chorus, Orchestra or Guitar? Music can:

• Provide a unique way of thinking.
• Act as a link between the past and the present.
• Lift the self-esteem of participants.
• Bring joy to both musician and audience.
• Provide a means of expressing thoughts, values and emotions through music that otherwise may be difficult to express through words.
• Provide teamwork, self-esteem, courage, support, leadership, respect, confidence, critical thinking, management skills, science, math, history, reading and language skills pertaining to music, assist with peer pressure, how music affects our world, culture and more!!!

CAREERS IN MUSIC

Teaching is an exciting and rewarding profession. It is one of the few areas where you actually get to see and hear the results of your efforts. I find it thrilling to spend a lifetime in a vocation that is not only rewarding but also fun! I feel you possess the talent, drive, enthusiasm and ability to succeed in such a profession. There are many areas in music for you to consider. These include:

• 
  Professional Musician (opera, community chorus, professional ensembles, entertainer, church or synagogue, symphony orchestra, guitar ensemble, recording artist)
• Private Teacher (public or private schools, private studio, local music store, area church or synagogue)
• Junior or Senior High Music Director
• College/University Music Director (adjunct professor, professor)
• Elementary Music Teacher
• Church or Synagogue Music Director
• Community Music Director
• Music Therapist
• Music Industry (retail, sales, music publishing, recording technicians, etc.)
  Composer (local, national, television/film)

I value your ability and would be happy to discuss these possibilities with you. If I can provide you with further information, please feel free to contact me.

Music Advocacy Links:

• MENC-Music Educators National Conference
• Willis Music
• GFA-Guitar Foundation of America
• FOA-Florida Orchestra Association
• FVA-Florida Vocal Association
• FMEA-Florida Music Educators Association