Here’s to a year of joyful music making!

At the beginning of the school year there are many energetic teacher trainings to motivate and inspire us for the year to come. Facebook is filled with quotes about how music study affects the lives, brains, and psyches of young students. The following quote from Oliver Sacks, the well renowned neurologist and best-selling author who recently passed away, points to the research linking music study to academic gains:

“What is beyond dispute is the effect of intensive musical training on the young, plastic brain. Although a teaspoon of Mozart may or may not make a child a better mathematician, there is little doubt that regular exposure to music and especially active participation in music, may stimulate development of many different areas of the brain.”

Every day, as I teach children aged 5 to 11 in music class, I get to witness the energy they display as they move around the room in response to musical rhythms. And often, I can see the look of joy on their faces when they hear music they know and love. However it’s not always joy that they exhibit. Sometimes I see the look of frustration as they try to master a musical instrument. Sometimes it’s sadness that gets invoked when they hear a plaintive melody.

To me, music class is about more than making children smarter. It is about more than raising their test scores or helping them develop spatial intelligence. Don’t get me wrong. I am thrilled that music study does these things! But the aspect of music study that is the most thrilling to witness is when a child gains confidence after he or she finds his or her own particular, musical voice.

Here’s to a satisfying year of music making at Dommerich!

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