Music & Citizenship: Can Playing a Musical Instrument Help Your Child Become a Better Citizen?
Disregard the popular image of rappers with their ghetto blasters, terrorizing neighborhoods with eardrum-splitting cacophony. Consider instead our delightful school bands and orchestras... and ponder on whether those students might be becoming our best future citizens.
Unlikely as it may seem, recent scientific research suggests this hypothesis might actually be true. It appears studying music can, in fact, impact the development of the human personality, especially in the area of socialization. In particular, music education encourages self-discipline and diligence, traits which carry over into other areas.
According to statistics compiled by the National Data Resource Center, students who can be classified as 'disruptive' (based on factors such as frequent skipping of classes, times in trouble, in-school suspensions, disciplinary reasons given, arrests, and drop-outs) total 12.14 percent of the total school population. In contrast, only 8.08 percent of students involved in music classes meet the same criteria as 'disruptive'.
Neurobiologist Norman Weinberger reports on another research study by Martin Gardiner of Brown University. According to Weinberger, writing in the Winter 2000 Issue of MuSICA Research Notes, Gardiner's study checked the relationship between arrest records of teenagers and their degree of involvement in music. He analyzed a large-scale data base that included information gathered over a period of many years for more than a thousand residents of Rhode Island.
Gardiner tracked people from birth through the age of thirty, and found that the greater the involvement in music, the lower the arrest record. Teens who had music education were less likely to get into trouble than students who didn't. However, those who were also involved in playing a musical instrument had even fewer brushes with the law. Those who had the most experience, including good sight-reading ability, had a negligible arrest record.
Gardiner's study, which took place in 2000, is backed by others. The National Association for Music Education publishes a fact sheet on its website which quotes the Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Report. According to the January 1998 report, secondary students who participated in band or orchestra reported the lowest lifetime - and current - use of all substances (alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs).
And a 1990 study at the National Arts Education Research Center, concluded that students who participated in arts programs in selected elementary and middle schools in New York City showed significant increases in self-esteem and thinking skills.
The results of studies such as these are promising for the future of our society, especially in the light of a 2003 Gallup Poll Survey showing record numbers of Americans now play musical instruments.
This survey - conducted by the Gallup Organization (commissioned by NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants) - found that Americans are playing musical instruments at the highest levels since 1978.
Just over half, (54 percent), of households surveyed had a member who plays a musical instrument. And in 48 percent of households where at least one person played an instrument, there were two or more additional members who also played.
Ninety-seven percent of respondents agreed that playing a musical instrument provides a sense of accomplishment and encourages expression, and 85 percent believe it makes someone smarter. An equal number regretted not learning to play an instrument and 67 percent said they would still like to learn.
Interestingly, the survey also showed that an increasing number of young people are becoming involved in music, with the percentage of people ages of 5 to 17 who play an instrument at 31 percent, up from 25 percent in 1985.
Of the total respondents a further 27 percent were between the ages of 18 to 24.
Most of those questioned began their music education before their teens with 64 percent saying they started music study between the ages of 5 to 11 and 18 percent between the ages of 12 to 14.
In his highly acclaimed book, A Users Guide to the Brain, Ratey John J, MD notes: "The musician is constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, style, rhythm, phrasing and feeling - training the brain to become incredibly good at organizing and conducting numerous activities at once. Dedicated practice of this orchestration can have a great payoff for lifelong attention skills, intelligence and an ability for self-knowledge and expression."
Good citizens require many of these same skills in order to live harmoniously with other human beings. So as you move to a new town or take up a new job, it could just be worth enquiring if your neighbors and colleagues are musicians.
Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. His book-CD-DVD course titled "How To Play Chord Piano" (http://www.chordpiano.com) has sold over 100,000 copies around the world. He holds an advanced degree from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. Previous to that he worked as an assistant music therapist at DeWitt State Hospital in Auburn, California. He can be reached at http://www.pianolessonsbyvideo.com. He is the author of the popular free 101-week e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" with over 55,000 current subscribers. Those interested may obtain a free subscription by going to http://www.playpiano.com/
Related Articles:
Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum to Bow ?Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy,? Co-Presented by Suntrust and Ford Motor Company on Frida
Hank Williams Jr. to Make Appearance During Grand Opening Festivities
New Music: Eleven New Concerts featured today on Wolfgang's Vault include Billy Joel 1977, Santana 1976, Hall & Oates 1982 and Iggy Pop 1977
Each week Wolfgang's Vault adds new concerts unreleased since the date of their original recording. Available today: Billy Joel, Santana, Styx, Hall & Oates, Iggy Pop, Men At Work and more. These are not-to- be-missed rare recordings from the archives, made between 1973 and 1987 and immediately available for free streaming.
The Chagrin of the RIAA Adopted as Business Model for New Rock Music Entertainment Company
MegaPlatinum Entertainment LLC is proud to announce a new mp3 music filesharing service catering exclusively to rock and punk music fans.
Digital Media Wire Announces Keynote Addition and Music Showcases for Digital Music Forum East
77 speakers and 425 attendees registered for 7th annual event.
Savannah Music Festival Features Unprecedented Array of Artistry in 18th Annual Event
Dianne Reeves, Susan Tedeschi, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Al Jarreau, John Pizzarelli Big Band, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Robert Spano, Anoushka Shankar, Noche Flamenca with Soledad Barrio, Daniel Hope, Bach's St. Matthew Passion, The Boston Camerata, Isabel Bayrakdarian, The Borodin Quartet, Jerry Douglas, Marty Stuart, Plena Libre and others highlight the 2007 Savannah Music Festival.
Mark King Signs Production Contract With BHTC Music
DJ Mark King signed an agreement with BHTC Music for the production of House Music. Known for his high energy music sets, Mark King brings a hard, eclectic style to BHTC Music.
Brobdingnagian Bards Named Best None of the Above Band of 2006-07 by the Austin Music Awards
Indie Celtic music favorites the Brobdingnagian Bards were named Best "None of the Above" Band of 2006-07 at the prestigious Austin Music Awards held last night at the Austin Convention Center, kicking off the music portion of the international South By Southwest music conference. The AMA's are celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year and have long been the standard for recognizing the best musical talent coming out of one of the best music cities, Austin, TX.
Martin Guitar - A Respected Name In The Music Industry
For well over a century and a half, The Martin Guitar Company has been continuously producing acoustic guitars (http://www.the-guitar-center.net/index.php?catid=33028) that are acknowledged to be the finest for playing music in the world. The Company has, through the years, managed to survive with each succeeding generation from C. F. Martin, Sr.'s Stauffer influenced creations of the 1830s to recent developments introduced by C. F. Martin IV. Continuous operation under family management is a feat bordering on the remarkable, reflecting six generations of dedication to the guitar maker's craft. In or out of the music industry, C. F. Martin has few rivals fo...
Jade Leary Uses iMac's Built-In Camera to Shoot New HD Music Video
Magnatune independent recording artist Jade Leary uses an iMac's built-in iSight camera to shoot an HD music video for the song We Were Eternal, taken from his new album Black Glitter Diaries.
Worldwide Exclusive of Hot Chip's New Album From Clash Music
Clash Music Magazine is set to get your feet dancing, while putting smiles on the faces of discerning music fans everywhere, as it reveals the availability of Hot Chip's new album -- a week before its release -- from its newly launched media hub, Clash Music
Is Your Child Capable of Composing Music? Maybe the Next Mozart?
We've all heard of them. Child prodigies who begin composing music at some ridiculously young age.
Apple Ipod: Start a Serious Music Collection With Free Downloads
Apple.com Ipod: get yourself some free downloads of music and films, you will be pleased with what you get. These days it seems that Ipods are the one MP3 player that everyone wants to have. Most of the people you know have probably got one. The one negative feature of owning an Ipod is trying to download from Itunes, this is often quite pricey, and it isn't that brilliant anyway! There are ways around the problem though, and I've produced a list of hints in this article to help you get free legal downloads!
Topman.com Launches Topman Music Downloads
Topman, a British based leader in cutting edge men's fashion, are offering online shoppers the chance to download free music albums from Topman.com.
Music Documentary Tocar y Luchar Premiers at the American Film Institute Festival: AFIFEST
To Play and Luchar was selected to the first AFI 20/20 world outreach program and will screen at festivals throughout the world.
Miami Rap Music - History and Genres
Those who are young or relatively new to the HipHop culture don't realize that Rap Music has many different genres: