Music Training's Cognitive Benefits Could Help "At-Risk" Students

AthanasiusKircher writes In recent years, emphasis on standardized testing and basic skills has forced many schools to cut back on things like arts and extracurricular activities. A study out this week from Northwestern University hints that schools may be hurting "at-risk" kids even more by cutting such programs. Just two years of music lessons were shown to have significant effects on brain activity and language processing which the researchers argue could help close achievement gaps between at-risk students and more affluent students. Aside from better brain response to language observed in the lab, practical effects of the interventions were readily apparent: 'Leaders at Harmony Project approached the researchers after the non-profit observed that their students were performing much better than other public school students in the area. Since 2008, over 90 percent of high school seniors who participated in Harmony Project's free music lessons went on to college, even though the high school dropout rates in the surrounding Los Angeles areas can reach up to 50 percent.' Note that this is only one of several ongoing studies showing significant cognitive benefits for music training among at-risk students; an article last year from The Atlantic gives a more detailed summary of related research.

STEM =! Convergent Thinking

[Taco Cowboy]

We've bought into the myth that all you need to succeed in STEM fields is convergent thinking

Don't use the "we" when it was you who thought so

STEM was never, is never, and will never be a product of "convergent thinking"

And I have a problem with your description of art being the source of "divergent thinking"

Take the so-called "art" that we have, for example - Music ... these days you listen to one song you listen to all songs --- all of them sound so similar as everybody tries to sound like everybody else --- the beats, the rhythm, who the fuck cares anymore who sings what since they all sound just so much alike

Creativity ? Where IS creativity nowadays ?

Certainly not in the art field --- When a guy put a crucifix into a container filled with urine that guy instantly becomes an "artist" and his "crucifix in urine" was described as "creative", I dunno about you, but "creativity" sure ain't the right adjective to use in this case

Known For 50 Years

[Jim Sadler]

The fact that school bands create much better students has been well understood for many decades. That doesn't mean that our screw ball society has done anything with that information. First music breaks up boredom. Apparently having something to do stops a lot of drug use and other crimes in general. Then a school band relies upon cooperation. Obviously a band will not sound very good with a lot of kids out of tune or playing the wrong note so every band member has a serious incentive to help every other member. Basic behaviors are also taught. Showing up on time with your instrument, your music and your complete uniform are all part of school band programs. And if you look at playing an instrument as a very competitive action things become even more obvious. What other form of performance in which competition takes place also completely avoids violence? Football, soccer and even track events all involve pain and certain forms of violence. For minority groups the individuals become valued for their ability and performance. The white student can highly value and respect the brown black, red or yellow student who stands out for excellence. There is no student that could not help themselves through being in a rigorous band and concert group all the way from 3rd. grade through college. Then we have a world dynamic as well. If Americans are illiterate for math, science and the arts they are even more in worse shape with their knowledge of music. Ask your next door neighbor why Chopin is so highly respected and there is a 99% probability that all you will get is duh. That leads to a life long lock down on the ability to associate with truly educates people. So our dullard students are left with a life of drinking beer and getting into all kinds of negative lives with high mortality rates.