Technology Helps Students Find Their Musical Voice

Oftentimes the talk surrounding technology revolves around how it brings cultures from across the globe closer together and allows us to break down cultural barriers inherent to different societies. But for one high school in Queens, New York, iPads are allowing its students with physical and mental challenges to connect with their classmates, and to their inner artist.

An article on NPR.org details one band teacher’s incredible work with the school’s “Technology Band.” The band is a mix of traditional instruments and iPads. All the members have disabilities, some on the autism spectrum. Their teacher, Adam Goldberg, is a classically trained pianist with a degree from the Manhattan School of Music. 20 years ago he began substitute teaching at P.S. 177 while playing jazz and rock gigs around New York City. Not long after, he was offered a job at the school, and he’s been there since.

He is a self-proclaimed “hesitant technophile” because of the amount of work involved in ensuring the technology worked properly. These days, however, he finds that the music applications used on the iPad have reached a level of workability that makes it easier for the band to produce complex orchestral-esque arrangements. As a classically trained musician, Mr. Goldberg understands the necessity of learning technique, but as a teacher of disabled students, it makes it easier to produce music without being bogged down by the technical aspects of learning an instrument that many of his students have trouble with. It helps him teach his students about the art behind the process of music-making.

The Director of Technology for New York City’s Department of Education, Leslie Schect, has gotten behind the idea of iPads in the classroom. She claims that music is a “natural way in” – an avenue for students to connect with one another even if they have difficulties communicating. However, she states that the iPad is simply one part of the equation. Without the engaging demeanor of teachers like Adam Goldberg, the iPad simply does not have truly transformative power.

Mr. Goldberg puts the band into the context of the real world by explaining the lessons that the students are learning apart from the music; a sense of belonging, friendship, and personal accomplishment which is may be more difficult to garner in other education settings. Goldberg says this translates to a wider idea of socialization out in the general world. He has seen a huge leap in their social abilities since he started using the iPads in the band. And through their music education, Goldberg has noticed an anchor in reality to their dreams – no longer are they thinking of becoming Spiderman or Superman.

This new technology seems to offer more students an opportunity to learn through music, and that truly is a beautiful thing. It makes me think about what this can offer to the field of music education.

from Christine Holley http://ift.tt/1i66Xf3

Music Education and the Brain

Music education is beneficial for everybody and not just the budding stars of tomorrow. Children with a musical background excel in other areas of learning as well. Listening and learning to play music is a very involved activity. Not only must people learn how to utilize different skill sets simultaneously, but integrating them into a symbiotic relationship from which those skills as well as others are able to grow.

According to PBS, music is very helpful in language development. Though children devoid of any sort of music exposure still have skills they need for development, music is an enhancement to these innate abilities. Mary Luehrisen, Executive Director for the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), says that the inborn capacity for language needs to be “reinforced, practiced, celebrated which can be done at home or in a more formal music education setting.” According to Dr. Kyle Pruett, a professor of child psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, “Language competence is at the root of social competence. Musical experience strengthens the capacity to be verbally competent.” Dr. Pruett is a practicing musician in addition to his career in education.

A study at the University of Toronto at Mississauga, published in Psychological Science in 2004 found an increase in the IQ of six-year-olds who had been receiving music lessons. Over the period of a year, the six-year-olds were split into three groups. One group received music lessons, while another group got drama lessons. The final group received no special lessons. The music group had an average increase of three more IQ points than either of the other groups.

Not only does music seem to raise IQ, but also increases certain neural pathways and development. In addition to heightened sound recognition, fine motor tasks can also be enhanced.

There is also a causal link between music and spatial intelligence. According to some research at the Performing Arts Medicine Association, understanding music helps children visualize various complementary elements and their relationships.

Though learning music can be very beneficial for children, Pruett stresses that music does not make children smarter, but simply helps train them to use their innate abilities much more comfortably. Music education is helpful when learning to learn and to think, but does not increase one’s capacity for thought as far as we know.

from Christine Holley http://ift.tt/1iQkDVq

New on Medium: The Changing Landscape of Music Ed. Through Social Media

I just wanted to share my newest post on the way that social media is changing the way we teach music.  Have a look below- thanks!

-Christine Holley

The Changing Landscape of Music Education Through Social Media

from Christine Holley http://ift.tt/1ghHlFV

Using Music as Therapy

You’ve probably heard that laughter is the best medicine.  But what about music?  There is a growing group of professionals who think music is even more effective.  Music Therapy has been around for decades, but it has recently become a more independent field of therapy as opposed to an offshoot of psychiatry.

The Boston Globe recent interviewed Lisa Summer, a board-certified music therapist and the head of the Music Therapy program at Anna Maria College.  She feels one of the main reasons music therapy has developed into its own field is because researchers have realized that music can help people with internal issues express their problems and concerns in a way that they may not have been able to verbally.  Hearing certain kinds of music or particular musical pieces can unlock memories or emotions that have been repressed.

It’s not all about listening either.  Summer often has her patients create their own music by playing or learning an instrument or writing their own original songs.  She’s found that this type of expression can significantly alter mood for the better.

The field of music therapy came into the national spotlight several years ago, when Congresswoman Gabby Gifford, who had sustained massive brain trauma after a gunshot to the head reportedly used a regiment of musical therapy on her road to recovery.  The Globe piece warns that this event and other stories like it have caused “music healers” to come out of the woodwork in recent years.  Beware of these folks selling pseudoscience as healing.  Actual music therapists hold degrees and have been certified to practice.

One of the interesting methods that Summer mentions is the mimicking of a patient’s internal issues in song.  She cites one situation where she played a piece that began as a jarring and tense piece but then finally resolved itself for a college student who was feeling anxiety.  After a few more sessions, the patient felt that she was more equipped to express her true self.

Whatever your inner issues may be, it’s a safe bet that the right kind of music can help release some of your tension.  Check back soon for the latest in the world of music and education.

from Christine Holley http://ift.tt/1hvul3f