Music Education's Impact on Mathematical Proficiency

“Music is the universal language of mankind,” so said Henry Longfellow. And this statement is correct. Through the past years, funding for education in fine arts programs has been decreasing among public schools systems, on a structure which more money should be funding towards teaching students pertinent core courses in order to meet expectations on uniformed tests. However, in a study conducted by Amy Graziano, a postdoctoral researcher in University of California, Irvine's Department of Physics and Astronomy, two hundred and thirty-seven second-grade students involved in both piano keyboard training and innovative math software scored twenty-seven percent higher on proportional math and fractions tests than students only using the math

The once formerly instructional and practice time for music performance of 30 minutes per day has been shortened in schools or completely eliminated. The amount of time in which music instructors are present to a class immensely shortens their effectiveness capability to teach music material. Nevertheless, the reductions in their profession to teach, elementary school music instructors are still expected to yield similar results within students and their achievements. The main argument behind budget cuts for fine arts departments in elementary schools has been caused by an ever growing focus on higher test results in core curriculum subjects, such as language arts, social studies, science, and math. This logic is highly mistaken; the correlation between early childhood exposure to music and scholastic excellence have been proved and has been acceptable for a vast amount time. “Music competencies achieved from birth to age five assist students in later school experience ” (Colwell 1721), concluded a research conducted by the Perry Early Childhood Education Program. Amy Graziano has proven music education to enhance intellectual ability in abstract fields such as math when entering into early elementary years. Therefore, ongoing budget cuts and layoffs within the fine arts departments of public school systems is inexcusable and absurd. Hypothetically speaking, if school systems proceeded to hire more

It can be effective for everything from improving the wellbeing of geriatric patients in nursing homes to lowering the stress level and pain of women in labor. Social, physical, emotional, and intellectual challenges are all treatable and can be overcome with the aid of music therapy. Music is not only for the sick and needy, though-healthy people can use music to relax, reduce stress, exercise, or improve their mood. Music therapy is virtually the only treatment with zero potentially harmful or toxic side effects. Through music therapy, patients are aided with goals such as improvement in communication, motor skills, and behavioral issues. What makes music therapy so effective is its multi-functionality. On a physical level, brain function changes in response to music. Breathing patterns, heart rate, and blood pressure are all responsive to music and auditory stimulus (Turner 2270). Muscle tension can also be relieved through music, a benefit often employed in physical rehabilitation centers. Music naturally increases endorphin levels, which calms the listener and reduces stress-partially explaining the ability of music to improve the immune system. Music also affects people on a mental level, significantly increasing mental acuity. A college study showing that students performed better on math problems while listening to classical music coined this tendency as the “Mozart