by Stephen F. Zdzinski

"Music Makes You Smarter"

Do your children run the other way when you take out the flash cards to help them improve their math skills? Try picking up a kazoo or a drum instead.

Some remarkable studies show that music training generates the neural connections used for abstract reasoning, including those necessary for understanding mathematical concepts.

These studies come from the "Music Makes You Smarter" research led by Frances Rauscher, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, and Gordon Shaw, a physicist at the University of California at Irvine, and published in the February 1997 issue of Neurological Research.

Keeping Kids Interested

The first thing to remember is that all children have musical ability. Some may have more and some less, but everyone can benefit from musical activity throughout their lives. For those students with less natural musical ability, parent involvement in music makes a difference, especially when children are very young. In addition, most parent activities that are related to success in music study don't require specialized musical training or musical ability.

Research shows that with preschool children, parents may wish to:

Sing to their children
Have the children listen to recordings
Attend concerts as a family
Provide musical toys
Expose children to a variety and choice of music
When children begin instrumental music study, parents may become involved by encouraging children to select instruments based on which sound they prefer (Research shows that children will practice and achieve more if they like the sound of their own instrument.)

Taping practice sessions and performances (both audio and video)
Supervising home practice (this is crucial)

Parents can do a number of things to promote better attitudes and motivation as music study continues. For example, for children of all ages parents can:

Assist with practice
Attend school concerts and non-school concerts and recitals
Attend parent meetings with instructors
Provide transportation to musical activities
Provide musical enrichment activities, such as summer music camp

Going the Extra Step

Another important way that parents can contribute to their child's music education is to become active in music parent support groups. While many of these groups have a major focus on fund-raising for the school's music program, these groups also can serve other functions.

For example, music parent organizations can educate other parents and the public at all levels about the benefits of the school music program
Provide support services to the music program
Serve as advocates for the continuation of music programs in times of budget crises

With the obvious benefits that children receive from music study, give it a try. Help your children appreciate music, and provide opportunities for them to play a musical instrument. It may just be music to your ears!