Why?  Music schools are looking for new ways to open their resources to a wider range of students.  Especially in the aforementioned area.  Technology is changing the way many of today’s leading musicians compose, perform and produce.  It is also changing the way in which music reaches audiences both in the recorded and performance mediums.

The country’s leading music programs and even traditional conservatories are taking notice.  There is a reason for this.  Schools are finding it necessary for their sustainability to train students for the careers that will exist 20 years from now.  This includes going beyond the traditional classical curriculum and picking up on ideas that have led to the emergence of non-traditional music programs such as Berklee College of Music and Musicians Institute.  Many of today’s jobs a few years from now will have been replaced by other things.  Other careers in music will be invented or explored.  What these jobs or other careers will be, only time will tell.  But colleges owe it to their students to make sure their needs are being met and that they are truly prepared for a career in music.

Traditional distinctions among types of music schools are becoming less prominent as schools increase their offerings by adding more academic and technology programs.  For instance, Chicago’s Columbia College just recently launched the Contemporary Urban and Popular Music Program and awards a Bachelor of Music degree for students that are interested in producing, composing and performing modern music.  Ironically, this is the same degree awarded to students for classical composition.

Many schools which started as traditional conservatories are now offering degrees in Music Business, Music Industry and Music Engineering Technology.  Berklee College of Music and the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music were the among the pioneers in these non-traditional fields of music.  Schools are offering these programs designed for modern music production which are essential for sustainability and are using modern methods in order to reach current and future students.

Music has been deeply affected by the enormous change evolving in all forms of media.  Every branch of the arts has and will be affected for years to come.  It’s important that we embrace the future and what technology has to offer in the field of music.  With new ideas come new possibilities and exciting opportunities.  This emerging trend has not gone unnoticed and many music schools are now getting involved.  Music colleges owe it to their students to meet their current goals as a musician and lead them in directions they may never thought existed.

Music is a very powerful subject – It has been used since the Greek times for healing, communication, relaxation and for enjoyment. Even before birth we are aware of our mother’s heartbeat and during infancy are relaxed by the song of a lullaby. Every day everybody hears some form of musical pitch or rhythm and it can even be found in nature such as how birds communicate through a song-like speech.

Music is such a powerful force, it creates deep emotions in humans – it is played at weddings for happiness, in horror films and during war for fear and at home for happiness and because of this lends itself to relaxation, stress relief and health therapy – and the connection between music, body, and soul has even been shown to improve physical and mental health.

Skills such as working in teams, communication, self-esteem, creative thinking, calmer attitudes, imagination, discipline, study skills and invention are learnt and improved through the study of music and by focusing on the fact that young children are mostly highly receptive to pitch and rhythm – one of the main ways a child learns its language – that we can drive education in music to children to help them with benefits ranging success in society and in life.

“We believe the skills the arts teach -creative thinking, problem-solving, risk-taking, teamwork and communications – are precisely the tools the workforce of tomorrow will need. If we don’t encourage students to master these skills through quality arts instruction today, how can we ever expect them to succeed in their highly competitive business careers tomorrow?”

-Richard Gurin

Chief Executive Officer, Binney and Smith, maker of Crayola crayons

Music is a part of our society and a part of all communities – every human culture uses music to carry forward its ideas and ideals. A study of the arts provides children with an internal glimpse of other cultures and teaches them to be empathetic towards the people of these cultures. This development of compassion and empathy, as opposed to developing greed and a selfish attitude, provides bridges across different cultures that lead to a respect of other races at an early age.

Music has a great value to our economy – it creates jobs, increase’s tax base, boosts tourism and spurs growth in related businesses. Music study develops skills that are necessary in the workplace such as teamwork skills and discipline – during musical performances all members must work together to create the sounds they wish to achieve and for this regular practice is also required. Music favors working and ‘doing’ as opposed to observing, and these are the ethics employers are looking for.

Because of music’s ability to relax, calm and heal, and its optimal platform for emotions, the involvement with music helps to carve brighter attitudes – more optimism towards the future, less TV and non productive activities, low use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs and desire to develop individual abilities.

Music requires study skills, communication skills, and cognitive skills and as these are learnt and developed they expand the student’s abilities in other academic areas and help them become better students. – Students with coursework/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. — College-Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers. Princeton, NJ: The College

Entrance Examination Board, 2001.

The discipline of music, particularly through participation in ensembles, helps students learn to work effectively in the school environment without resorting to violent or inappropriate behavior – According to statistics compiled by the National Data Resource Center, students who can be classified as “disruptive” (based on factors such as frequent skipping of classes, times in trouble, in-school suspensions, disciplinary reasons given, arrests, and drop-outs) total 12.14 percent of the total school population. In contrast, only 8.08 percent of students involved in music classes meet the same criteria as “disruptive.” — Based on data from the NELS:88 (National Education Longitudinal Study), second follow-up, 1992..

Many studies have been conducted on the effects of music in the brain. Scientists say that children who are exposed to music or those who play an instrument do better in school than those who don’t. Recent research suggests exposure to music may benefit a child’s reading age, IQ and the development of certain parts of the brain.

It can be shown that some measures of a child’s intelligence are increased with music instruction – a connection between music and spatial intelligence (the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things) helps people to visualize and imagine solutions. This helps people to solve problems creatively and is critical to the sort of thinking necessary for solving mathematical problems and even general daily tasks.

“The musician is constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, tone, style, rhythm, phrasing, and feeling–training the brain to become incredibly good at 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.” — Ratey John J., MD. A User’s Guide to the Brain. New York: Pantheon Books, 2001.

Along with mental development music study can support the brains physical development – it has been indicated that musical training physically develops the parts of the brain known to be involved with processing language and reasoning, and can actually wire the brain’s circuits in specific ways. Memory can be improved through the linking of familiar songs with objects just as linking images can – past memories and emotions can be triggered by audio.

“Why arts in education? Why education at all? The purpose of education is not simply to inform but to enrich and enlighten, to provide insights into life as it has been led and as it may be led. No element of the curriculum is better suited to that task than arts education.”

-David Kearns

Now retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xerox Corporation

Ideally we want our children to experience “success” throughout life itself. The benefits may be psychological, spiritual and physical and with the challenge of making life meaningful and fulfilled and to reach a higher state of development by participating in music we develop self expression which in turn leads to self esteem – ultimately helping us to succeed at these challenges.

“Casals says music fills him with the wonder of life and the ‘incredible marvel’ of being a human. Ives says it expands his mind and challenges him to be a true individual. Bernstein says it is enriching and ennobling. To me, that sounds like a good cause for making music an integral part of every child’s education. Studying music and the arts elevates children’s education, expands students’ horizons, and teaches them to appreciate the wonder of life.”
— U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, July 1999.

Conclusion

Music is a powerful tool and as seen can dramatically improve and enrich everybody. It makes sense to push music education and to allow young generations to gain these wonderful benefits – higher intelligence through increased creative thinking, problem solving and physically stronger brains, a higher perception of life including better attitudes, strong desires to achieve and fulfil and higher self esteem, better developed discipline, study skills, concentration, communication and team skills which transfer from education through to career and a better understanding of communities and society

Your music industry education can begin in college. If you are sure that you want to be the person who edits the recorded sound to make it better, then a college with a specialized music program is your best bet. These programs offer intense study of music and hands-on training. Someone who graduates from one of these programs will have the advantage of actual knowledge of music equipment.

Technical schools are also in high demand. At one time, people shunned technical training as being second class. It ran a distant second place to getting a degree at a four-year institution. But, when it came to finding jobs after graduation, technical school graduates had one very important advantage-legitimate experience handling the latest equipment used in the music industry.

Technical schools provide a mix of book learning and lectures and time in the music lab. Students get to create music, edit sound, and produce their own music to see how the process works. Many technical degrees are two-year programs but a lot of fundamentals and advanced teaching goes on in those programs.

Internships are required at most technical schools. They evaluate their students and how they apply the skills learned in the classroom in a work setting. Some programs at four-year institutions require internships before graduation but not all. An internship at this stage with an instructor to back you up is a great initiation into the music industry.

When choosing a music school or a music program at a college or university, review the entire program. Are the instructors credentialed? In the music industry, this could mean that they have twenty years experience as a sound editing engineer or a music producer. A Bachelors degree wouldn’t hurt either. With the constant changes in the music industry, be sure that your instructors can provide the type of training for you that is currently pertinent to the industry.

How is the program set up? Many programs offer more book work and less time in the lab. Theory is good to know if you are planning on a career in teaching. For a career that involves working in a music studio or on the sets of music videos, hands-on experience is more practical.

Studios are looking for graduates who can jump right in and be a part of the company. If the studio head asks you to sit at a station and make the sound better, your career could take a dive if you can’t work the equipment or provide an interesting answer. They don’t have time to waste on unprepared people.

Distance learning is also a way to get the education you need to perform technical jobs in the music industry. For those who have to work a regular job during the day to make ends meet, distance learning programs provide the opportunity they seek. All you need is a willingness to be flexible, a computer with Internet hook-up, a telephone, and commitment. Many distance learning programs are affiliated with local community colleges or university campuses so students have access to musical equipment. A student has the best of both worlds on their own terms.

So, before you decide to move to a major city to go to school, check out the local technical schools and distance learning. Being in New York or California won’t make you more likely to be hired, but the content of your school program might. Check with potential studios to see what program accreditations they recognize and shoot for a music program that has them.

In today’s musical environment, guitar tabs have become a great source for learning songs, guitar solos, and guitar chords quickly. It’s very important however, not to rely on guitar tabs as a substitute for an authentic music education. Guitarists who intend on progressing to the national and international stage should constantly strive to become more educated.

Nothing can replace a thorough knowledge of music theory. Especially when it pertains to guitar. Perhaps you’ve heard the old saying, the guitar is the easiest instrument to learn, but the hardest to master. There’s a good reason for this saying. There are hundreds and hundreds of musical options that can be utilized on the guitar when approaching any playing situation. In other words, the more informed choices one has regarding an approach to a particular musical scenario, the better the outcome. Informed choices are a result of authentic education.

Imagine walking on to a stage with complete strangers. The musical director announces that the song structure is a ii, IV, vi, V, I chord progression in the key of five flats and to extend the IV chord to it’s furthest diatonic extension. The very next thing heard is the drummer clicking off the tempo. This scenario would be quite intimidating for many guitarists.

All of the guitar tabs in the world won’t help in that scenario. In other words, for those who had been relying only on guitar tabs for his/her musical background, the above referenced chord progression would, most likely, turn into a musical train wreck. Contrast that with an ability to walk on to any stage, with any artist group, and play through every chord progression, in any key signature. Once again, guitar tabs do not, generally, educate one in overall music theory. Most often, guitar tabs help one learn to play something that already exists.

Visit any music store in the world. There is bound to be someone sitting on an amplifier speed picking arpeggios or some other scale. At first glance, many might think that this individual is very, very, talented. In fact, he/she might very well be very talented. However, if this individual has been relying only on guitar tabs, he/she would, most likely fall short, if confronted with a difficult chord progression or key signature change.

Far too many guitar players are relying on speed and flash! However, when all is said and done, the individuals that have taken the time to learn their instrument and all related music theory will, most likely, be the most successful overall. It’s actually very complimentary to get a late night call from a producer who needs help with creating a well-constructed guitar solo or help with the overall flow and dynamics of a song. Once again, guitar tabs, in general, will not help in this situation. However, education will!

Confidence, as a guitarist, is a great feeling. Knowledge of chord construction, chord function, guitar scales, guitar scale formulas, key signatures, extended guitar chords, altered guitar chords, chord inversions, guitar chord and guitar scale substitution principles (and so much more) is the greatest confidence builder that a guitarist, or any musician, could hope for. Take the time to study and learn. Your hard work and dedication to the guitar will pay off.

There are so many very good music institutes, colleges, and guitar methods that can help in the quest for education. However, make sure that any program will deliver an authentic education and not just bits and pieces of music theory. Most importantly, do not procrastinate. If musical opportunity knocks, be prepared to open the door. The key here is preparation through education.

Guitar tabs are great tools. Use them for what they are. Education is your best bet for maintaining longevity in your chosen field, playing the guitar. Until next time, practice, practice, practice.

In the last few years, however, a new dimension to learning music has appeared in the form of the internet the world wide web. Now instead of being limited to classroom courses, students are free to create their own schedules and learn at their own pace. A quick search on Google or Yahoo will turn up online courses in:

• Chord Piano
• Classical Piano
• For Beginners
• Improvising on the Piano & Guitar
• Rock Guitar
• Praise & Worship Guitar
• Killer Drum Instuctions
• Black Gospel Piano
• Jazz Piano
• and many many more

Music courses offered by colleges are generally far more in-depth than other courses and are usually only available to degree-seeking students (though some colleges offer courses as part of their continuing education programs). Lower level college courses often focus on an amalgamation of music theory and history, teaching individual theory concepts based on the historical period to which they are particular. As the courses grow in skill level so too does the number of specialized topics. Advanced courses are available for nearly every historical music period and are sometimes based on one particular movement. Advanced courses for theory grow increasingly more difficult and slowly teach every detail found in modern theory; it’s during the theory courses that students intending to major in music have their skills challenged the most — some even refer to these music courses as a weeding out period.

Instrument-based courses are equally as tough at the college level, though they usually assume a working knowledge of the instrument before the class begins. Those wishing to learn an instrument, therefore, are better off with private courses or courses offered by a community orchestra or social group. These courses will focus on the basic details of learning an instrument, starting from the very beginning. Fingering, theory and music reading will be covered, in addition to the occasional bit of history. Students of these courses may then wish to move on to college-level courses after completing a few years of private instruction.

But for those more interested in recreational music in other words, music that is played for personal enjoyment or to entertain family and friends, college music classes are not at all necessary. The internet abounds with wonderful courses that will help you do everything from play at your church to accompany your child on their flute or trombone, or even play in a jazz or rock or fusion or country group.

When it comes time for your child to apply to colleges, having a history of music education will improve their chances for admission to their desired school. Music gives kids many advantages.

Music schools are also a great way to expand your own creative world. Many schools accept adult students, and you might find that taking classes at a local school is the perfect way to add some creative spark to your life.

However, finding a good school isn’t always an easy task. Many of these schools do not always advertise like other organizations. How can you find a music school in your community?

Look Online

Doing a search for these types of schools may turn up several great candidates, especially if you live in a metropolitan area. When you’ve found a list of local music schools in your area, do a search for each specific school. You might be surprised by the reviews you find from other parents and students, and this information can help in your decision.

Online searches for these schools have many advantages, but one possible disadvantage is that not all musical schools advertise online or have a web page. It’s becoming increasingly likely that more of these types of schools will have an online presence, but you might miss out on a great one if you limit your research to the Internet.

Check with Your University

Universities and community colleges often offer music programs. Call the music department of your local college and ask if they offer any kind of musical education for children or adults. Often, the educators at these schools are top notch.

If your local college or university does not have a music program available, ask if they can recommend any specific music schools in the area. Since members of the music department staff at these schools have many professional connections, they might be able to offer some great insight on where to look for a great music school.

Ask Your Child’s Teacher for a Recommendation

Your child’s music teacher is a great resource when it comes to finding a music school, especially one that specializes in teaching music to children. If you are looking for music lessons Mississauga for your child, his or her teacher will also have special insight into which type of school might best address your specific needs.

Even if you are looking for a music school for yourself, your child’s music teacher is probably well connected in the music community in your area. He or she may have some great ideas on where you can go for your musical education.

Advantages of a Local Music School

Finding a local music school provides many advantages, including the following:

• A music school that is local means that you spend less time commuting between your home and music school. You can use this extra time to practice your music lessons.
• A local music school also means you save on the price of traveling between the music school and your residence. High fuel costs will not add to the price of your lessons.
• Enrolling in a local music school can provide you with great local social connections.
• When you attend a local music school, you are supporting your local economy and the creative arts scene.

But is there more to it than that?

There is a growing amount of evidence to show that music enhances a childs ability to think, learn, reason and create and it is in the first five years of a child’s life that all of the formative brain development and connections are being formed. Music brain researcher, Dr Gordon Shaw describes music as “a window into higher brain Function”.

Here are three compelling reasons why we should be sending our children to music lessons while they are young.

Reason#1 – Music Makes Children Smarter

Neurologiacal Research indicates that because music involves ratio’s, fractions, and thinking in space and in time that it provides learning not only for foundation musical learning,but also learning for foundation math learning being a pre requisite to learning both these subjects at higher levels.

In a study carried out by Debby Mitchell at the University Of Central Florida it was found that young children with developed rhythm skills perform better academically in early school years.

In a paper compiled at a Music Educators National Conference, 2001, it was noted that high school music students score higher verbal and math score than their peers and in research done by Phi Delta Kappan, 1994 and a paper prepared by Peter H Wood, It was found that Music Majors are the most likely group of college grads to be admitted to medical school.

Reason#2- Music is a recognised form of intelligence

In an article called ” The Changing Workplace is changing our view of education”, Business week, 1996 it was said “The nation’s top business executives agree that arts education programs can help repair weaknesses in American education and better prepare workers for the 21st Century”

Howard Gardner, a renowned Professor of Cognition and Education wrote a book in 1983 called Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, suggests that there are many kinds of human intelligence and identifies musical intelligence to be one of them.

Reason#3 – Skills learned through music can transfer into skills which are useful in every part of a child’s studies at school and can help with general well being.

As Senator Jeff Bingaman said “Music Education can be a positive force on all aspects of child’s life, particularly on their academic success”

It was reported in a Texas Commission on drug and alcohol abuse that secondary students who were involved in band and orchestra reported the lowest life time and current use of all drugs.

Skills learned through the discipline can transfer into study skills, communication skills and cognitive skills useful in every part of a child’s school life and a Harvard university study named the “Mozart Effect” found that spacial- temporal reasoning improves when children learn to make music.

As Michael Greene the Recording Academy President and CEO said at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in February 2000, “Music is a magical gift we must nourish and cultivate in our children, especially now as scientific evidence proves that an education in the arts makes better math and science students, enhances spatial intelligence in newborns, and let’s not forget that the arts are a compelling solution to teen violence, certainly not the cause of it!”

These words were uttered from the mouth of my third grade teacher Ms. Kratz way back in 1981. A few weeks prior, my music teacher, Mr. Snouffer, pulled me into the tiny, dingy backstage area of our little cafeteria stage at Whitehall Elementary School in Williamstown, New Jersey. He asked if I knew the words to Barry Manilow’s, “I Made it Through the Rain.” I said yes, and he asked me to sing it. I have no idea how in 3rd grade I knew the words to that song. Let’s just say that from a very young age I knew I was not like the other kids. Apparently, Mr. Snouffer saw a spark in me when I sang in music class, and he was checking to see if I could make it in the chorus. He decided I could and let Ms. Kratz deliver the message. He did not know the impact that this simple gesture would have on my life.

Right around this time my dad took off and my mom had to find the humility and courage to accept government assistance in order to keep our home. In addition, I had begun to painfully hear my name called early in the morning every Monday to pick up my “free lunch” ticket for the week. This was humiliating at first, and eventually just became reality. To top it all off, while my brothers were excelling in academics and athletics, I was falling behind in Math. This led to me having a tutor outside of school. Actually, though, I would still be falling behind in Math if you asked me to compute anything beyond basic Algebra.

Mr. Snouffer was the first male figure in my life who took an active interest in my talents and abilities. His invitation to me to participate in the school choir was my first taste of accomplishment in my own rite. I went on to place competitively in All State and Region Choirs in New Jersey, win regional teen arts festivals, star in my schools plays and musicals, and I have done some acting as an adult. Above all, I still reap the rewards that involvement in the performing arts provides. Those are willingness to risk and face fears, discipline, self-confidence, collaboration, team work, and great appreciation for all arts and the value that they have in our culture.

In addition, I learned a great lesson about failure from my early days in choir. I was one of the only Jewish people in my small elementary school; therefore, Mr. Snouffer invited me to introduce the Chanukah song during our Christmas concert one year. During all of our school performances I did my introduction flawlessly. Our parent/evening performances had actually become so popular that the cafeteria was full of kids sitting in the aisles and people standing along the sides. This was my first time presenting in front of a large group of people alone. One of my classmates thought it was really cool to see me up there and he yelled my name from the audience. It turned out that I was quite unprepared for this. When I heard my name I froze, and completely broke down. I had to be ushered off the stage and miss the entire song that I was supposed to introduce. I was devastated. The lesson came when Mr. Snouffer told me that it was ok. He even went as far as to take accountability for my breakdown. He let me know that since I had done so well during our school performances that he didn’t think to tell me to look at the back wall during the evening performance. Looking back, I can honestly say that it this experience in choir was the first time I learned that it is ok to take risks, even fail, get back up, and keep going and learning.

A few months ago, after 29 years, I reached out to Mr. Snouffer with a letter of appreciation. He was grateful to hear from me and appreciative of my willingness to let him know about the impact this simple gesture had on my life. He also expressed that as a teacher (now directing an expansive Choir Department at Westlake High School in Austin, TX), you can’t ever really know which moments or gestures will have an impact on your students. I suggested that perhaps the only real objective is to be fully present and real in each moment and from there we can have significant impact.

Writing my letter of appreciation to Mr. Snouffer allowed me to reconnect with a formative moment in my personal history and inspire a great teacher. Also, while our current economy is eliciting budget cuts in very painful areas like education and arts education, I am reminded how critically important it is for children to have the opportunity to broaden their minds and experience through participating in the arts and art education. I reiterate, there are many qualities that are honed through music education, including discipline, team work, communication, perseverance, self-mastery, and courage. Also, it has been illustrated that children who study music are more likely to graduate high school and go on to college.

I want to encourage you to take a few moments to contemplate the people who have had great impact in your life. Maybe you can even reach out to them and let them know. Who were they? How did they impact you?

Music and art classes teach kids about creativity. When children are being creative they are using a different part of their brain that they don’t use in regular classes, like math and science. It is important to develop this creative part of the brain, so kids have a better chance at being successful in their chosen career path. For example, a child who wants to go into advertising as a career choice will need to have creativity to come up with new and innovative ads for a company. If kids only have an education in science, math, English, and social studies, then they will not be prepared for life after school.

There have been many studies that have proven that art and music education help kids do better in their regular classes. It is a fact that a good music education leads to better math grades. Art education helps teach children to be creative, which then helps them learn to come up with creative solutions to problems given to them in other classes. For example, in science class being creative would help the student come up with innovative and new hypothesis in class, which may result in better grades. Art and music class are important in helping teach children tools that can be applied to other classes.

Tools that are used in the art classroom and instruments used in music class teach kids how to be responsible for expensive equipment that they will most likely be working with for future employers. For example, having a child be put in charge of a musical instrument helps teach the child responsibility and it helps teach them to be respectful of equipment that is not theirs. This is important because employers will expect there future employees to be able to be responsible and take care of any materials that will be on loan to the employee, like a computer, for example.

Public school boards need to make sure that music and art programs in their schools are well funded. Art and music education helps teach children the creativity that is needed for numerous jobs. Art and music classes also help teach children tools that can be used in other classes that will help improve their grades. Finally, using instruments and art supplies in these classes help teach kids responsibility and respect for items that are not theirs. Children who do not have any kind of music or art education will surely be at a disadvantage when entering college or the work force.