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| EXPRESSIONS |
| "The place where every child becomes a star by developing new skills, confidence & character through an arts education" |
| 2310 Laurel Street, #4 ~ 254-1962 ~ www.expressionsnapa.com |
Benefits of Music
The pace of scientific research into music making has never been greater. New data about
music’s relationship to brainpower, wellness and other phenomena is changing the way we
perceive mankind’s oldest art form, and it’s having a real-world effect on decisions about
educational priorities.
Did You Know?
Middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental music scored significantly
higher than their non-band peers in standardized tests. University studies conducted in Georgia and
Texas found significant correlations between the number of years of instrumental music instruction
and academic achievement in math, science and language arts.
Source: University of Sarasota Study, Jeffrey Lynn Kluball; East Texas State University Study, Daryl
Erick Trent
Did You Know?
Students who were exposed to the music-based lessons scored a full 100 percent higher on fractions
tests than those who learned in the conventional manner. Second-grade and third-grade students
were taught fractions in a nontraditional manner by teaching them basic music rhythm notation. The
group was taught about the relationships between eighth, quarter, half and whole notes. Their peers
received traditional fraction instruction.
Source: Neurological Research, March 15, 1999
Did You Know?
Music majors are the most likely group of college grads to be admitted to medical school. Physician
and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found
that 66 percent of music majors who applied to med school were admitted, the highest percentage of
any group. For comparison, (44 percent) of biochemistry majors were admitted. Also, a study of 7,500
university students revealed that music majors scored the highest reading scores among all majors
including English, biology, chemistry and math.
Sources: "The Comparative Academic Abilities of Students in Education and in Other Areas of a Multi-
focus University," Peter H. Wood, ERIC Document No. ED327480
"The Case for Music in the Schools," Phi Delta Kappan, February, 1994
Did You Know?
Music study can help kids understand advanced math concepts. A grasp of proportional math and
fractions is a prerequisite to math at higher levels, and children who do not master these areas
cannot understand more advanced math critical to high-tech fields. Music involves ratios, fractions,
proportions and thinking in space and time. Second-grade students were given four months of piano
keyboard training, as well as time using newly designed math software. The group scored over 27
percent higher on proportional math and fractions tests than children who used only the math
software.
Source: Neurological Research March, 1999
Did You Know?
A McGill University study found that pattern recognition and mental representation scores improved
significantly for students given piano instruction over a three-year period. They also found that self-
esteem and musical skills measures improved for the students given piano instruction.
Source: Dr. Eugenia Costa-Giomi, "The McGill Piano Project: Effects of three years of piano
instruction on children's cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and self-esteem," presented at the
meeting of the Music Educators National Conference, Phoenix, AZ, April, 1998
Did You Know?
Data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 showed that music participants
received more academic honors and awards than non-music students, and that the percentage of
music participants receiving As, As/Bs, and Bs was higher than the percentage of non-participants
receiving those grades.
Source: National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 First Follow-Up (1990), U.S. Department of
Education.
Did You Know?
Research shows that piano students are better equipped to comprehend mathematical and scientific
concepts. A group of preschoolers received private piano keyboard lessons and singing lessons. A
second group received private computer lessons. Those children who received piano/keyboard
training performed 34 percent higher on tests measuring spatial-temporal ability than the others, even
those who received computer training. "Spatial-temporal" is basically proportional reasoning - ratios,
fractions, proportions and thinking in space and time. This concept has long been considered a major
obstacle in the teaching of elementary math and science.
Source: Neurological Research February 28, 1997
Did You Know?
Young children with developed rhythm skills perform better academically in early school years.
Findings of a recent study showed that there was a significant difference in the academic
achievement levels of students classified according to rhythmic competency. Students who were
achieving at academic expectation scored high on all rhythmic tasks, while many of those who scored
lower on the rhythmic test achieved below academic expectation.
Source: "The Relationship between Rhythmic Competency and Academic Performance in First Grade
Children," University of Central Florida, Debby Mitchell
Did You Know?
High school music students score higher on SATs in both verbal and math than their peers. In 2001,
SAT takers with coursework/experience in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal
portion of the test and 41 points higher on the math portion than students with no
coursework/experience in the arts.
Source: Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board, compiled by Music
Educators National Conference, 2001.
Did You Know?
College-age musicians are emotionally healthier than their non-musician counterparts. A study
conducted at the University of Texas looked at 362 students who were in their first semester of
college. They were given three tests, measuring performance anxiety, emotional concerns and
alcohol related problems. In addition to having fewer battles with the bottle, researchers also noted
that the college-aged music students seemed to have surer footing when facing tests.
Source: Houston Chronicle, January 11, 1998
Did You Know?
Music training helps under-achievers. In Rhode Island, researchers studied eight public school first
grade classes. Half of the classes became "test arts" groups, receiving ongoing music and visual arts
training. In kindergarten, this group had lagged behind in scholastic performance. After seven
months, the students were given a standardized test. The "test arts" group had caught up to their
fellow students in reading and surpassed their classmates in math by 22 percent. In the second year
of the project, the arts students widened this margin even further. Students were also evaluated on
attitude and behavior. Classroom teachers noted improvement in these areas also.
Source: Nature May 23, 1996
Did You Know?
"Music education can be a positive force on all aspects of a child's life, particularly on their academic
success. The study of music by children has been linked to higher scores on the SAT and other
learning aptitude tests, and has proven to be an invaluable tool in classrooms across the country.
Given the impact music can have on our children's education, we should support every effort to bring
music into their classrooms."
Source: U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM)
The pace of scientific research into music making has never been greater. New data about
music’s relationship to brainpower, wellness and other phenomena is changing the way we
perceive mankind’s oldest art form, and it’s having a real-world effect on decisions about
educational priorities.
Did You Know?
Middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental music scored significantly
higher than their non-band peers in standardized tests. University studies conducted in Georgia and
Texas found significant correlations between the number of years of instrumental music instruction
and academic achievement in math, science and language arts.
Source: University of Sarasota Study, Jeffrey Lynn Kluball; East Texas State University Study, Daryl
Erick Trent
Did You Know?
Students who were exposed to the music-based lessons scored a full 100 percent higher on fractions
tests than those who learned in the conventional manner. Second-grade and third-grade students
were taught fractions in a nontraditional manner by teaching them basic music rhythm notation. The
group was taught about the relationships between eighth, quarter, half and whole notes. Their peers
received traditional fraction instruction.
Source: Neurological Research, March 15, 1999
Did You Know?
Music majors are the most likely group of college grads to be admitted to medical school. Physician
and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found
that 66 percent of music majors who applied to med school were admitted, the highest percentage of
any group. For comparison, (44 percent) of biochemistry majors were admitted. Also, a study of 7,500
university students revealed that music majors scored the highest reading scores among all majors
including English, biology, chemistry and math.
Sources: "The Comparative Academic Abilities of Students in Education and in Other Areas of a Multi-
focus University," Peter H. Wood, ERIC Document No. ED327480
"The Case for Music in the Schools," Phi Delta Kappan, February, 1994
Did You Know?
Music study can help kids understand advanced math concepts. A grasp of proportional math and
fractions is a prerequisite to math at higher levels, and children who do not master these areas
cannot understand more advanced math critical to high-tech fields. Music involves ratios, fractions,
proportions and thinking in space and time. Second-grade students were given four months of piano
keyboard training, as well as time using newly designed math software. The group scored over 27
percent higher on proportional math and fractions tests than children who used only the math
software.
Source: Neurological Research March, 1999
Did You Know?
A McGill University study found that pattern recognition and mental representation scores improved
significantly for students given piano instruction over a three-year period. They also found that self-
esteem and musical skills measures improved for the students given piano instruction.
Source: Dr. Eugenia Costa-Giomi, "The McGill Piano Project: Effects of three years of piano
instruction on children's cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and self-esteem," presented at the
meeting of the Music Educators National Conference, Phoenix, AZ, April, 1998
Did You Know?
Data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 showed that music participants
received more academic honors and awards than non-music students, and that the percentage of
music participants receiving As, As/Bs, and Bs was higher than the percentage of non-participants
receiving those grades.
Source: National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 First Follow-Up (1990), U.S. Department of
Education.
Did You Know?
Research shows that piano students are better equipped to comprehend mathematical and scientific
concepts. A group of preschoolers received private piano keyboard lessons and singing lessons. A
second group received private computer lessons. Those children who received piano/keyboard
training performed 34 percent higher on tests measuring spatial-temporal ability than the others, even
those who received computer training. "Spatial-temporal" is basically proportional reasoning - ratios,
fractions, proportions and thinking in space and time. This concept has long been considered a major
obstacle in the teaching of elementary math and science.
Source: Neurological Research February 28, 1997
Did You Know?
Young children with developed rhythm skills perform better academically in early school years.
Findings of a recent study showed that there was a significant difference in the academic
achievement levels of students classified according to rhythmic competency. Students who were
achieving at academic expectation scored high on all rhythmic tasks, while many of those who scored
lower on the rhythmic test achieved below academic expectation.
Source: "The Relationship between Rhythmic Competency and Academic Performance in First Grade
Children," University of Central Florida, Debby Mitchell
Did You Know?
High school music students score higher on SATs in both verbal and math than their peers. In 2001,
SAT takers with coursework/experience in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal
portion of the test and 41 points higher on the math portion than students with no
coursework/experience in the arts.
Source: Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board, compiled by Music
Educators National Conference, 2001.
Did You Know?
College-age musicians are emotionally healthier than their non-musician counterparts. A study
conducted at the University of Texas looked at 362 students who were in their first semester of
college. They were given three tests, measuring performance anxiety, emotional concerns and
alcohol related problems. In addition to having fewer battles with the bottle, researchers also noted
that the college-aged music students seemed to have surer footing when facing tests.
Source: Houston Chronicle, January 11, 1998
Did You Know?
Music training helps under-achievers. In Rhode Island, researchers studied eight public school first
grade classes. Half of the classes became "test arts" groups, receiving ongoing music and visual arts
training. In kindergarten, this group had lagged behind in scholastic performance. After seven
months, the students were given a standardized test. The "test arts" group had caught up to their
fellow students in reading and surpassed their classmates in math by 22 percent. In the second year
of the project, the arts students widened this margin even further. Students were also evaluated on
attitude and behavior. Classroom teachers noted improvement in these areas also.
Source: Nature May 23, 1996
Did You Know?
"Music education can be a positive force on all aspects of a child's life, particularly on their academic
success. The study of music by children has been linked to higher scores on the SAT and other
learning aptitude tests, and has proven to be an invaluable tool in classrooms across the country.
Given the impact music can have on our children's education, we should support every effort to bring
music into their classrooms."
Source: U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM)