Archive for June, 2010
In the world of public education, at least in the United States, when the budgets are cut, the first thing to suffer is usually the arts. This can be unfortunate because arts actually improve learning abilities and connect the right and left hemispheres of the brain. All of the arts help to connect the brain, developing whole thinkers out of budding artists. Still, nothing seems to work as quickly, and efficiently, as music.
A study done a California, a few years ago, showed that all successful California engineers were practicing musicians. Many children who have a hard time with math or with the concept of what its purpose is, begin to find interest and success after becoming involved in a decent music program.
And, of course, we all know that Einstein, considered one of the greatest minds in modern scientific history, had a hard time in math. But it is believed that his ability to play the violin was a contributor in the success of his incredible thinking processes.
A little known anomaly is that the Number One major usually being accepted to medical school is the music major. This has been a fact for many years. Students who have had difficulty getting into a Med School program have occasionally taken some time off to attend a few intensive music classes; usually these students have then been accepted into the program.
The Japanese do not send their children to school until the age of 8 years old. Once they enter school, music becomes mandatory. By the time Japanese children reach the age of 12, they have surpassed American students the same age, by leaps and bounds. This is credited to the advanced music programs that are in the Japanese school system.
So, the answer for children, who seem to have a difficult time in a regular school system, is not to take arts away from them, but instead, let them submerge themselves into an artistic medium or endeavor that they love and then watch the miracles happen.
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