Your student has participated in their school’s music program since sixth grade, is now taking private lessons, consistently makes the all-state band, and attends a selective music program each summer in Michigan. Oh, and they know every Beethoven symphony inside and out. If this describes your student, a music career could very well be in their future, but before that future can become reality, musical assessment, reflection, and preparation are needed. As they begin their…
Extracurricular activities are sometimes given as much weight as a student’s academic profile. This is especially true for highly specialized students with unique plans for the future. Colleges and universities will weigh your extracurricular profile more heavily, since your musical talent is just as important as your grades for admission. For students in the arts, depending on the rigor of the program and school you’re applying to, your extracurricular activities will matter even more than…
Think of how much is learned in the early years of a life: crawling, walking, talking. These learned skills are sculpting the circuitry of the brain though plasticity. As you get a little older and begin to practice skills, neurons connect and those activities become easier. Practice a song, and soon you know it “by heart,” which, technically speaking, is “by brain.” Learn a dance, and soon you can perform its steps without consciously thinking…
The goal of most baby music classes is to have parent and child bond through music-making. As parent and child connect using music, babies also enjoy other important benefits. A 2012 study out of McMaster University showed that babies who participated in music classes with their parents in the first year of life “smile more, communicate better and show earlier and more sophisticated brain responses to music.” Through hands-on music classes, infants are exposed to…
Deciding whether to allow students to listen to music in the classroom is a modern teacher’s dilemma. Every single time students need to write an essay or work on a problem, they say, “Can I put my headphones on? I think better that way!” But is that really true? Does music help or hinder concentration? Let’s take a look at the thoughts of three different high school teachers and their takes on letting students listen…
Studies about the Ten Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have shown that most people have experienced one of these traumas in childhood, such as being abused, having a parent who is incarcerated, or experiencing homelessness. The trauma one experiences in childhood can affect adult mental and physical health in later years, especially if a person has multiple ACEs. While the harm can have lasting impacts, health professionals have identified ways to mitigate the effects by nurturing…
If the music industry sparks your child’s interest, there are many activities they can get involved in besides being in band or chorus in school. If your child doesn’t want to be involved in singing or instrumentals, but they still love music and want to be more involved with it, there are a few alternatives they can pursue. Several high schools and some community centers have an independent radio. Through this, students can learn a…
When applying to colleges, I already knew what field I wanted to study: Music Education. That was the easy part. From there I had to decide to which schools I wanted to apply. I researched schools in my area that had great Music Education programs. After I decided on four schools to which I wanted to apply, I researched the criteria that was required for acceptance into each university. Specifically, I researched how well I…
Do you want a career in Music? Not sure how to gain admission to the right college? If you’re in high school, gaining admission to college is hard, no matter what career pathway you choose. Acceptance into Music programs isn’t just about talent. There are certain requirements that you should be aware of, so that you can get on track and have the best possible chance of admission. Universities highly consider GPA’s and test scores.…
Music is a valuable part of any well-rounded education. While many studies on music’s benefits focus on their association with higher SAT scores in college or student involvement in middle school, the perks of a music education can actually begin much earlier. Students in elementary school exhibit a broad range of benefits from access to an early music education. From math and science to reading and beyond, children perform better in nearly every area when…
