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Scientific Study Shows a Link Between Musical Training and Successful Children

Scientific Study Shows a Link Between Musical Training and Successful Children
January 21, 2015

Professor Harold Hill from The Music Man may have been onto something with his “Think System” after all! A new study by the University of Vermont College of Medicine shows a scientific link between playing an instrument and brain development.

Researchers studied the brain development of 232 children between the ages of 6 to 18, who played a musical instrument. “What we found was the more a child trained on an instrument,” said James Hudziak, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont and director of the Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families, “it accelerated cortical organization in attention skill, anxiety management and emotional control.”

The authors of the study discovered results that were music to their ears—playing music altered the behavior-regulating areas of the brain. For instance, practicing music changed the thickness in the part of the cortex that pertains to “executive functioning, including working memory, attentional control, as well as organization and planning for the future,” wrote the studies author’s.

Hudziak hopes his findings will help convince people to use positive things, such as music, as a treatment for psychological disorders such as ADHD. A disturbing fact from the U.S. Department of Education reveals, “three-quarters of U.S. high school students ‘Rarely or never’ take extracurricular lessons in music or the arts.”

It’s never too late for you or your child to get involved with music on some level, even if it’s simply listening. Here are some recommended songs performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square that you can enjoy with your children:

2016 Dates to Remember

March 25– No school, No piano

Spring Recital #1- Sat. April 9, 1 pm, Church dress, Pls bring a refreshment to share! Thanks!

Spring Recital #2- Sat. April 9, 6 pm, Church dress, Pls bring a refreshment to share! Thanks!

AIM- April 16,
Here is what I have so far. for AIM scheduling.
AIM Levels 1-5, 1 slot, 7 min, Levels 6-9, 2 slots, 14 min, Level 10, 3 slots, 21 min
Below are all my available times. Please confirm. Thanks.
Penni

Geri Gibbs, 670 S. Edgewood Drive, North SLC
8 am, Ali
8:14 am, Kayla
12:07 pm, McKayla
12:28 pm, Madison
12:42 pm, Hailey
12:49 pm, Hudson
12:56 pm, open

Katherine Chipman, 433 South 10 West, Farmington
8:28 am, Ashby
8:35 am, Clark
8:42 am, Max

Angela McBride, 1386 North 75 West, Centerville
8:49 am, open
9:10 am, Jalia
9:24 am, Myan
9:31 am, Abby
9:38 am, Toby

Bonni Hobbs, 49 Cynthia Way, North SLC
10:35 am, open
10:42 am, open
10:49 am, open

Coila Robinson, 19 West 1700 South, Bountiful
11:17 am, Grace
11:24 am, Nathan
11:31 am, Katrina
11:38 am, Leitalia
12 noon, Rebecca
12:14 pm, open

Wolfgang’s Konzert Haus,381 North 900 East,Bountiful
12 noon, Ian
12:21 pm, Celeste

April- Federation Concerto, April 19-20,
Tues April 19, Lois Matthews’ home,
2506 N, 2450 E, Layton
7:55 pm, Katrina H
8 pm, Leitalia T
8:05 pm, Abby S

Wed April 20, Elaine Beckstrand’s home,
544 N 150 W, Kaysville
8:45 pm, Hailey W
8:55 pm, Ali F

May 30– Memorial Day, No school, No piano

May 30-Jun 3- No piano

June 3-Last day of school

June 6-Summer piano schedule starts

Summer Recital– date/time TBA