Music Education - More Than Just Music

Dear Parents,

Current research has begun to define the importance of music study as it relates to the development of a child's mind. It continues to produce significant data demonstrating that students of music excel in everything they do.

At the Mokena Public Schools we think music is basic to life. It is an artistic language that helps humans connect imagination to expression; it cultivates the whole child.

Instead of instructing the student "what to think," it teaches the student "how to think." It underscores the value of interpretation and personal judgment rather than the traditional right-or-wrong answer concept of learning.

Perhaps Dr. Gordon Shaw and Dr. Francis Rauscher (while at the University of California - Irvine) have done the most provocative neurological research about the value of music study:

"A research team exploring the link between music and intelligence reports that music training is far superior to computer instruction in dramatically enhancing children's abstract reasoning skills necessary for learning math and science. After six months of lessons, those children who received the music training performed 34% higher on tests measuring spatial-temporal ability than the others. These findings indicate that music uniquely enhances higher brain functions required for mathematics, science, and engineering."

This is only one of many ongoing experiments that continue to support the theory that music enhances the human intellect. It is apparent we have merely scratched the surface concerning the positive implications of music study.

We also know that music is an integral part of a complete education. Music augments awareness and sensitivity in our children. This year has taught us not to take music for granted. Despite the uncertainty of our department’s future, we urge you to help your child continue making music in any possible way.

With appreciation,
Rebecca Rodey, Jennifer Thomas, and Jessica Maffia
MPS #159 Music Educators