childhood music lessons improves brain function as we age!

this study was sent to me by Claire Westlake, a private piano teacher that is a lets play music connections certified teacher in Mesa.

Study Links Childhood Music Lessons With Better Brain Function in Older Adults

By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

April 22, 2011 -- Learning to play a musical instrument as a child may help keep the mind sharp for years after the last note is played.
A new study suggests childhood music lessons may improve brain function and combat the effects of aging on the brain.
Researchers found older adults who took music lessons as a child performed better on memory and brain function tests than those who never learned how to read music or play an instrument.
The benefits of childhood music lessons on brain function were still evident decades later even if they never played music again as adults. But the study suggests the longer the participants played an instrument, the bigger the benefits may be.
"Musical activity throughout life may serve as a challenging cognitive exercise, making your brain fitter and more capable of accommodating the challenges of aging," says researcher Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, PhD, of the University of Kansas Medical Center, in a news release. "Since studying an instrument requires years of practice and learning, it may create alternate connections in the brain that could compensate for cognitive declines as we get older."

thank you 3rd years for makin my 40th a day to remember

My husband involved my 3rd year students in on a surprise during class time as i taught on my birthday. He had Slaton hide out on the front porch and give each child a flower and something with the 40 party to wear while i taught. each child graciously took on this task and presented me with flowers, which have not died yet; and party stuff that i had to wear while i taught my lessons. it was a fun day to remember for sure! i am really glad they got to be a part of it...this is my Thanks to them!!!!

Why MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS CONT.

5. Music is a Foreign Language
Most of the terms are in Italian, German or French, and the notation is certainly
NOT English,but a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to
represent ideas. The semantics of music is the most complete and universal
Language!

6. Music is Art\
It allows a human being to take all accumulated knowledge and skill and use it to
create emotion. That is one thing science cannot duplicate: Humanism, feeling,
emotion, call it what you will.

THAT IS WHY WE TEACH MUSIC!!!
not because we expect you to major in music-Nor to play or sing all your life
Not so you can relax--NOT so you can have FUN!
but...
SO YOU WILL BE MORE HUMAN-SO YOU WILL RECOGNIZE BEAUTY
SO YOU WILL BE MORE SENSITIVE-SO YOU WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO CLING TO
SO YOU WILL BE CLOSER TO AN INFINITE BEYOND THIS WORLD
SO YOU WILL HAVE MORE LOVE, MORE COMPASSION, MORE GENTLENESS, MORE GOOD
IN SHORT....MUSIC WILL BRING YOU MORE LIFE!!

why music in our schools continued

3. Music is Physical Education

It Requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, lip, cheek and facial muscles, in addition to extraordinary control of the diaphragm, back, stomach, and chest muscles, which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets. (this is applying to singing/choir)

4. Music is History
Music usually reflects the environment and times of its creation, often even the country and or racial feeling.

WHY MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS

Recently, at my son's junior high choir concert, on the back of the program was a wonderful list of why we should have music in our schools. I thought is worthy of sharing with my Let's Play Music families and friends.

1. MUSIC IS MATHEMATICAL
It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper.

2. MUSIC IS A SCIENCE It is exact, specific and it demands exact acoustics. A condcuctor's score is a chart, a graph which indicates frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody, and harmony all at once and with the most exact control of time.

stay tuned for more in the coming weeks.....you will definitely be impressed with what music will do for your child as they enter school and the school of life!

RECITAL WOW!

I have to say I really love how the Let's play Music recitals entertain the audiences and how that is not the intention. The children really internalize the music and experience learning about it in different ways! They then get to show that experience on stage; and in it's most genuine way, the learning comes out on display spontaneously, creating a FABULOUS AND HIGHLY ENTERTAINING show! That same spontaneous entertainment delighted yet another recital venue last night! thank you to all the parents who spend the time to help their child in class or in the home by encouraging them and learning about how best to build such a wonderful musical relationship and helping to foster a better parent child relationship. I really have very wonderful students who love learning and the parents who help them are absolutely the best to be associated with!!!! Here are some pictures I have from the recital. These are without the children. If you would like me to post a picture of the recital that you captured, please send them to me via email!

bonds parent to child

The final piece of dissecting the vision statement of Let's Play Music. BONDING PARENT TO CHILD! There is such a great feeling when you KNOW you are doing something right for your child. I have always felt like Let's Play Music was right for every single one of my children. Whether they chose piano or other instruments, I knew that Let's Play Music would give them the very best foundation into whatever they would do in music!!!! Now, my children look back with fondness to their "let's play music" time. They especially love seeing their younger siblings enjoy the puppet shows. They watch the practice time I have with my current daughter and positive memories quickly return of how they got to do the same thing with Mom. Let's Play Music creates a bond with your child for a lifetime! I have 5 children and my oldest really loves participating in choir. My 2nd son, has no intimidation for learning a new instrument and is currently playing the cello and has expressed interest in learning other instruments. My 3rd child, is excelling in private piano studies and my current lets play music student, loves the fun her classes offer her. I have had the unique opportunity to be just a mom with my children and then to teach 2 of them. with my 5th and youngest coming up soon I will have been able to bond with all of them as they participate in Let's Play Music. As a Mom, I want to be able to help my children learn by tapping in to HOW they learn. Seeing 'How' they learn has helped me be a better mother and teacher! I will ALWAYS TREASURE that time with my children!!!!