Music Education: Influential or Insignificant?

Desmond E. Bing

Professor Kerr

English 101-H4

November 10, 2010

Music Education: Influential or Insignificant?

             Since antiquity, humans have been convinced of the inherent value of music and aware of the necessity of its inclusion in the education of children. Plato considered music to be one of the two most important units in school. Aristotle claimed in Politics, "Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear that the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it." (“Music Education”) (“Politics”). In my own experience of music, Erik Satie’s “Trois Gymnopédies” produces a definite effect on the moral character of my soul. The title is believed to mean, "a dance accompanied by song and performed by naked Spartan girls" but the term Gymnopædia was an Apollonic celebration in ancient Sparta where men of all ages danced, not naked, but unarmed (“Erik Satie”). Unarmed is the perfect word to describe this song. It stirs in me fond memories of my past that seem more likely to have happened in some indie flick than in my own life. That is the power of music; it can disarm and lead one to depths of the human experience never thought possible. However, there are individuals who say music education takes time away from core subjects and that the impact of it cannot be measured by state and national assessments and any attempt to do so would be futile. Furthermore, as long as science and math reign as the predominant focus of comparison between other countries and ourselves, music will seldom be a front-runner in that race (“Saving the Music”). Even so, music has scientific validity as being very beneficial during the early stages of life. Researchers have discovered links between children who have received musical training in their progressive years and an increase in cognitive, verbal, and emotional development, advanced comprehension of general academic areas such as reading, mathematics, and science, and improved memory and spatial awareness (“The Argument for Music Education”).

According to a Canadian research group who published their findings in Science Daily Magazine, a great deal of evidence exists showing a correlation between musical training in childhood and cognitive proficiency. They measured changes in brain responses to music in children aged 4 to 6 and discovered that children who took Suzuki music lessons had greater improvements in IQ scores (“Musical Training Affects Brain Development”). Northwestern University also conducted a study, which suggests a significant relationship between music training and enhanced verbal proficiency (“Specialized Brain Systems”). However, the most compelling effect of music on the brain is its development of emotional intelligence. Latest research shows that music training sharpens an individual’s ability to recognize emotion in sound, an ability that goes a long way in terms of developing sensitivity to emotional cues and intuitive understanding of social contexts, two skills critical to emotional intelligence. Music training fine-tunes an individual’s perception of the emotional landscape at hand, allowing one to have greater flexibility in dealing with human relationships (“Biological Advantage”). On the other hand, many are requesting a “back-to-basics” movement in which education reform calls for a return to basic subjects only, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic (“Saving the music”). Given the extensive amount of evidence supporting the direct correlation between advanced abilities in many “back to basics” subjects and training in music, it seems rather fitting some opponents to early childhood music education are finding their argument to be somewhat flat and under pitched.

As stated in the “No Child Left Behind Act” of 2002, “The term 'core academic subjects' relates to English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography.” (“Success in School”). Any musician, music teacher, or parent of a music student would agree with the NCLB Act and be capable of calling to mind personal anecdotes about the effectiveness of music study in helping children become better students. Many of the skills obtained through the discipline of music, as these stories commonly point out, transfer to study skills, communication skills, and cognitive skills useful in every part of any curriculum (“Success in School”). Neurological Researchers conducted a study of 237 second graders who were given piano keyboard training and newly designed math software to demonstrate improvement in math skills. The group scored 27% higher on proportional math and fractions tests than children that used only the math software (“Success in School”). In addition, students with coursework and/or experience in music performance and music appreciation scored higher on the SAT. Students in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal and 41 points higher on the math and students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on the math, than did students with no arts participation (“Success in School”). However, some argue that if music is brought to a place of core importance, proficiency requirements in the subject will eventually follow. This, they say, would be neither realistic nor beneficial, since not every child has inborn musical talent and required participation in music programs will kill any enjoyment of the subject (“Music Education”). If this argument can be made for music as a core subject, then it must also be made for English, math, or any other required subject. In fact, we could extend it to all education itself, and protest compulsory education on the grounds that students find no pleasure in coming to school since they are forced to do so. Additionally, we must keep in mind that not all people are born with innate abilities in mathematics, sciences, or history: areas in which we nonetheless require proficiency (“Music Education”).

Pablo Casals once said, “Music fills me with the wonder of life and the incredible marvel of being a human.” (“Success in Life”). Music has so many effects on us: from improving self-discipline to helping young people find the confidence to express who they are; but researchers have recently discovered a scientific connection between music and increased memory and spatial awareness (“Developing Intelligence”). A McGill University study found that pattern recognition and mental representation scores improved significantly for students given piano instruction over a three-year period. Furthermore, a University of California (Irvine) study showed that after eight months of keyboard lessons, preschoolers showed a 46% boost in their spatial reasoning IQ (“Developing Intelligence”). Amid the slough of data presenting the positive effects of music on children, there are equally as many people who would prefer children to focus more rigorously on math and science course in order become more competitive in a global technological market. (“Teaching Math and Science”). They hold fast to the belief that in order to keep America’s place atop of the list of innovative discoveries made in the world, we must give prime importance to the math and sciences and second-class recognition to other subjects: specifically music (“Teaching Math and Science”). However, if this belief is to be legitimized we must take into account the fact that both science and math are used a great deal in the discipline of music. The sight-reading/pitching of a specific key and the interval changes between the notes of that key requires proficient math and science skills, so wouldn’t the placing of equal importance to train students in music essentially kill two birds with one stone, so to speak (“Teaching Math and Science”)?

Former President Bill Clinton, who happens to play several instruments, but is widely acknowledged for his superb saxophone skills, once declared, “Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and, by studying music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the world from a new perspective.” (“Success in Life”) The musician is constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, tone, style, rhythm, phrasing, and feeling training the brain to become incredibly capable of organizing and conducting numerous activities at once. Dedicated practice of this orchestration can have a great payoff for lifelong attention skills, intelligence, and an ability for self-knowledge and expression (“Developing Intelligence”). The need for music education is apparent and the resources are not as hard to come by as they may seem. Although some believe music education takes away from the core subject curriculum, cannot be privy to assessment, and is not worthy of comparable statistics among other countries, the evidence of its benefits far out-weight the arguments for its detriment. Students who are not given strong musical training are robbed of a highly valuable part of their education. Music should not only be taught in school, but be treated as a core subject, essential to the whole development of the student (“Music Education”).

Works Cited

Aristotle. Politics. Cosimo, Inc. P.O. Box 416 Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY.1905.

Print.

“Erik Satie.” Erik Satie Homepage. Web, November 5, 2010 .Nicholas Fogwell in

co-operation with Archives Erik Satie, Paris. March 1996. http://www.af.lu.se/~fogwall/satie.html

 “Music Education: Essential or Expendable?” Lifestyle. Web, November 2,

2010. L.M. Henderson. July 16, 2007. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/288195/music_education_essential_or_expendable.html?cat=4

“Musical Training Effects Brain Development.” “Biological Advantage.” Science Daily. Web, November 3, 2010. Science Dailey, LLC. 1995-2010.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060920093024.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090303161427.htm

  “Saving the Music.” All Academic Research: Stapleton, Katina. and Walton, Matthew.

The Midwest Political Science Association, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Illinois, Apr 15, 2004. Web, November 4, 2010. http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p83765_index.html

“Specialized Brain Systems.” Northwester University. Web, November 6, 2010. Swets and Zeitlinger, Inc. 2010.

http://communication.northwestern.edu/departments/csd/research/developmental_cognitive_neuroscience/documents/Papers/BoothBurman-CN-2001.pdf

 “Success in School.” “Success in Life.” “Developing Intelligence.” Benefits of Music Education. Web, November 1, 2010. Children’s Music Workshop. 2006.

http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/benefits.html

 “Teaching Math and Science” CQ Researcher. Web, November 7, 2010. CQ Press. September, 6, 2002-2010. Volume 12, Number 30.

http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2002090600&type=query&num=Science+and+Math+Comparisons+between+the+US+and+other+countries&

“The Argument for Music Education.” Suite 101.com. Web, November 6, 2010. Diane Laney Fitzpatrick, Inc. http://www.suite101.com/content/the-argument-for-music-education-a59271

Prop H8 Final Draft

Desmond E. Bing

Professor Kerr

English 101-H4

October 20, 2010

Prop H8

        The Declaration of Independence states:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

        Equality for all has been a struggle waged since the beginning of recorded time. The word “struggle” (in relation to finding one’s Creator) established its origins in the Arabic language by defining itself as “Jihad.” That word, jihad, has now been mutated into something much more negative than the initial purpose intended. Now, the struggle to identify the word “marriage” has resurfaced and in doing so, placed it under threat of being altered in similar fashion by denying a particular group of people their unalienable rights. In the fall of 2008, California residents received the chance to circumscribe this topic by voting on Proposition 8. According to Hub Pages, a San Francisco based political Internet publishing company, Proposition 8’s sole purpose for existing is, “To define marriage as being between a man and a woman only.”(“California Proposition 8”). Opponents to Prop 8 say legal recognition of gay marriage will promote stable relationships for same-sex couples, benefit children in same-sex families, and have no effect whatsoever on opposite-sex marriages (“Gay Marriage Showdown”). A widely accepted prerequisite for marriage is love and love can be defined as a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. Person is the word that speaks volumes; not man, or woman, but a person. The passing of Proposition 8 can be examined in terms of Right-Wing Christian efforts to further theorized agendas, false promises made by the Barack Administration, and Voter Confusion/Campaign Shifts.

            Given the scores of Christians invested in the belief that the pope has authority to speak infallibly on matters of faith and morals, it’s rather alarming that he was recently quoted in New York Media Magazine referring to Gay Marriage as “one of the most insidious and dangerous threats to the Common Good of today.”(“Pope on Gay Marriage”). Statements like that seem better off left to one whom works in the field of law enforcement. Nevertheless, many right-wing Christian leaders tend to hold these types of biased ideas on any subject that does not directly correlate to what many believe their real agenda to be: enlarging the number of followers behind their dogmatic beliefs in order to increase the size of the endowments available at their disposal (“Religion”). The Huffington Post, a non-profit Internet blog, video, and newspaper site, stated that spending for and against Prop 8 reached $74 million dollars, making it the most expensive social-issues campaign in U.S. history, and the most expensive campaign this year outside the race for the White House. Forty percent of the campaign funding for the passing of the amendment can be linked directly back to church groups who argue gay marriage goes against tradition, nature, and the teachings of the Bible (“Prop 8”) (“Religion”). However, The Mormon Church seems to be front-runner in the race to stop the legalization of gay marriage by allegidly providing more than half of the money allotted towards the bills passing. In the mid 1990’s, the Church was reportedly receiving over $5 billion in tithes per year. Today, with an almost 14 million-member congregation who has an obligation to donate 1/10 of their income and a total of assets that are reportedly worth at least $30 billion, it’s no wonder the Mormon Church was more than capable of producing a majority of the forty percent of funding used by church groups to aid in the passing of Prop 8 (“Religion”). It seems as though, ironically enough, that in one of the most liberal of states, many of the same people who turned out to elect America's first black president also voted against gay marriage.

Regardless of the view one may hold of our current president, it’s fairly accurate to declare that many of the promises uttered during his campaign for the Presidency would be in need of an archeological team to be found at present. Culturally, we can see a huge increase in the acceptance of gays and lesbians. Specifically in the federal courts, there is for the first time a willingness to embrace the Constitution as a vehicle for securing equality for gay people. Yet in our nation's politics, we see essentially the opposite (“Gay Marriage Issue”). Barack Obama’s presidential campaign website posed that “he supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples,” but many feel that President Barack has held somewhat of a panderly view on same-sex marriage. "My religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman," Obama was quoted as saying during his 2004 Senate campaign in Illinois (“Gay Marriage Showdown”). Richard Socarides, a former Clinton White House adviser on gay rights, was quoted as saying that “President Barack Obama has failed to deliver on his pledges to gays regarding marriage recognition.”(“Gay Marriage Issue”). According to Socarides, it seems as though President Barack made a conscious decision coming into office that these were second-and third-tier issues. People were very excited by him, but he over promised and under delivered. (“Gay Marriage Issue”).

Ninety-five percent of precincts in California reported the ban of gay marriage had 5,125,752 votes, or 52 percent in favor, while there were 4,725,313 votes, or 48 percent opposed, but many feel this may not be the most accurate measure of how the Golden State thinks about the controversial idea (“Prop 8 Voters”). Researchers have been trying to figure out if confusion over Prop 8 may have thrown off some voters. Many people were perplexed by what a vote for “yes” or “no” meant; voting “yes” supported passing the proposition, and thereby a ban on same-sex marriage, while voting “no” was a vote to strike down the measure and allow gay couples to marry (“Prop 8 Voters”). Another big question posed after the election: Who shifted? Six weeks before the vote, Proposition 8 was too close to call. However, in the final weeks, supporters pulled ahead, and by Election Day, the outcome was all but certain (“Gay Marriage Showdown”). The “Yes on 8” campaign targeted parents in its TV ads. "Mom! Guess what I learned in school today!" were the cheery-frightening first words of the supporters' most-broadcast ad. They emerged from the mouth of a young girl who had supposedly just learned that she could marry a female when she grew up. In the last six weeks, when both sides saturated the airwaves with television ads, more than 687,000 voters changed their minds and decided to oppose same-sex marriage. More than 500,000 of those voters, the data suggest, were parents with children under 18 living at home. Now, because the proposition passed by 600,000 votes, this shift alone more than handed victory to proponents (“Behind the Numbers”). This data presents a clear picture that supporters of same-sex marriage have many obstacles to overcome before they return to the ballot, but that work is already underway, and hopefully, now true comprehension of how to illuminate this issue to all can underpin any efforts in order to avoid confusion or shifts in the future (“Gay Marriage Showdown”).

Pertaining to the fight for equal rights for all, Martin Luther King wrote:

“When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note and given the citizen of its country a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."”(“I Have a Dream”)

Dr. King couldn’t be more precise. These rights were a guarantee to every American, without stipulation of sexual orientation, and it seems as though the time has come to send back this bad check and collect the money that rightfully belongs to every citizen of this country. A San Francisco judge appeared to be in alignment with this movement in the case of Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, partners celebrating the over-turning of Prop 8 in there home state and a ten year anniversary all in the same week, by writing "Proposition 8 singles out gays and lesbians and legitimates their unequal treatment.”(“Prop 8”). This is a milestone case; but the causes of the Right-Wing Christian efforts to further theorized agendas, false promises made by the Barack Administration, and Voter Confusion/Campaign Shifts, which lead to the passing of this bill, still seem to be unresolved. Hopefully, someday America will not only live up to the covenant enacted by our four fathers many years ago, but create a way for no one to have the opportunity to use this sacred pact for any other means than the specific goal intended: freedom for all.

Works Cited

“Martin Luther King Jr., “’I Have A Dream.’” American Rhetoric. Web, October 27,

2010. Intellectual Properties Management, Auburn Avenue NE Atlanta, GA 30312. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

“Religion.” BBC News. Web, October 18, 2010. British Broadcasting

Corporation. Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/

“Gay Marriage Showdowns.” CQ Researcher. Web, October 15, 2010. The CQ Researcher, September 26, 2008, Volume 18, Number 33. CQ Press, a division of SAGE publications, 2010. http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2008092600&type=query&num=Prop+8&

“California’s Proposition 8.” Hub Pages. Web, October 18, 2010. Hub Pages, Inc. 2010

http://hubpages.com/hub/Californias-Proposition-8

“Prop 8.” The Huffington Post. Web, October 16, 2010. Huffington Post.com, Inc. 2010

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/prop-8

“Behind the Numbers of Prop 8.” LA Times. Web, October 15, 2010. Los Angeles Times, 202 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California, 90012, 2010.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-fleisher-gay-marriage-20100803,0,7125032.story

“Did Prop 8 Voters Know What They Were Voting For?” Newsweek. Web, October 12,

2010. Harman Newsweek LLC, 2010. http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/08/03/did-prop-8-voters-know-what-they-were-voting-for.html

“Pope on gay marriage.” New York Media. Web, October 17, 2010. New York Media

LLC.2010.http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/05/pope_gay_marriage_one_of_the_m.html.

“In States Races, Gay Marriage Resurfaces As Issue.” NPR News. Web, October 18, 2010. NPR and PBS 2010. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130625231

Works Cited for Essay #3

Works Cited

“Martin Luther King Jr., “’I Have A Dream.’” American Rhetoric. Web, October 27, 2010.

Intellectual Properties Management,

Auburn Avenue NE Atlanta, GA 30312

. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

• I believe this source to be credible and valid based on the information I gained from the website and the doucumentation provided to solidify the validity of the information given. There was an adress, it was coprywrighted by a company, and this is a well known speech to begin with. I would use this source for further research projects.

“Religion.” BBC News. BBC News: Web, October 18, 2010. British Broadcasting

Corporation. Broadcasting House,

Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA

2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/

• The BBC is a very credible and reliable news source that has publishing articles since the 1920's. The articles published by BBC News are written by well qualified journalists and reporters who have won and or been nominated for numerous writing awards. I would definitely use this source for other research assignments.

“Gay Marriage Showdowns.” CQ Researcher.. Web, October 15, 2010. The CQ Researcher,

September 26, 2008, Volume 18, Number 33. CQ Press, a division of SAGE publications, 2010. http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2008092600&type=query&num=Prop+8&

• The CQ Researcher is a credible source that was given to me by the head of the FCC library. Being that its a secure website, information must go through a screening process before it is made availbale for reasearch use. I would use the CQ Researcher again.

“California’s Proposition 8.” Hub Pages.. Web, October 18, 2010. Hub Pages, Inc. 2010

http://hubpages.com/hub/Californias-Proposition-8

•  Although there are personal blogs on this new website, I found most of the articles to be written very well and documented properly. I would maybe use this source again.

“Prop 8.” Huffington Post. Web, October 16, 2010. Huffington Post.com, Inc. 2010

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/prop-8

• Huffington Post was a really good source with well written articles by decorated journalists. I would use the Huffington Post for further research.

“Behind the Numbers of Prop 8.” LA Times. Web, October 15, 2010. Los Angeles Times,

202 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California, 90012, 2010.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-fleisher-gay-marriage-20100803,0,7125032.story

• LA Time has very well written articles by reporters who use very well doucumented sourcing techniques so I trust the information that was provided to me. I would use this source again.

“Did Prop 8 Voters Know What They Were Voting For?” Newsweek. Web, October 12,

2010. Harman Newsweek LLC, 2010. http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-gaggle/2010/08/03/did-prop-8-voters-know-what-they-were-voting-for.html

• Newweek is a reliable source with well written, doucumented articles. I would use them again.

“Pope on gay marriage.” New York Media. Web, October 17, 2010. New York Media

LLC.2010.http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/05/pope_gay_marriage_one_of_the_m.html.

• New York Media Magazine may be a company that writes articles well, but I think some of the articles may have some bias to them. I probably wouldn't use it again.

“In States Races, Gay Marriage Resurfaces As Issue.” NPR News. Web, October 18, 2010.

NPR and PBS 2010.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130625231

• NPR is a very valid source and its partner co and copywrite source is PBS. The articles were well documented and well written. I would use this source again.