Music Thesis Statement

Statement of the Problem

In recent years in the United States of America, test scores for high school seniors in math have declined. Results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress have shown a drop in the percentage of students in both private and public schools prepared for the demands of college-level work in reading and math. The last time the test was given, in 2013, 39 percent of students were estimated to be ready in math and 38 percent in reading; in 2015, 37 percent were judged prepared in each subject, a 1 to 2 percent decline (Zernike, 2016).

If we ignore this problem, the percentage of students prepared to enter the collegiate level may continue to decline. Action is needed in order to see students succeed academically in both in high school and in university or college. Through a series of tests, involving students at this age

The purposes of this thesis will be to analysis data currently available and present the validity of the use of music to improve memory retention in the music classroom. In presenting this information, as well as conducting research of my own, it is the hope that I will be able to show the relationship music has in the retention of math concepts in the classroom.

Need for the Study Given the results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, as well as the research done within the University of Vermont discussing the aid music might bring toward brain development, the need to merge these two subjects together is great. By having an understanding of the brain as well as the impact which music has on the brain will be helpful for educators, students, and parents moving forward.

Research Question(s)

The research questions, which are the basis of this study, are the following.

How does the use of classical music impact the student’s ability to recall