Great Parenting for Smarter Kids

There many suggestions and beliefs that one should do as a parent to ensure that his/her child will grow smart, or will be able to perform to his/her maximum potential. One of the most popular theories is engaging your child to music. Some even suggests that as early as pregnancy, having your baby listen to Mozart or any other classical music helps in the child's brain development.

To say that this is true and that parents should include this practice in rearing children may not be conclusive yet. But there is much research and articles working to support why music is intrinsic and important, and why it should be included in a child's education and developmental life. In fact, proving that we actually gain brain development and performance enhancement is not hard to do. I'm sure most of us, one way or another have had experiences in feeling more vibrant and relaxed when engaged in a musical activity whether it be listening to music or playing a musical instrument.

Some of us even use music to divert emotional outbursts and help us relieve stress from work and peer pressures. These simple things that we do we do not realize that music have done something to our brain where everything occurs. Nevertheless, if you're interest in academic research, here goes.

Research shows that music affects the brain. PET scans and MRI imaging scanning the blood flow in the brain have allowed scientists to monitor brain activity while an individual is listening to music or engaged in music training. Accordingly, our brains, wired with neural pathways "light up" when we are participating in an activity. Only certain region or parts of the brain "light up" in most activities but when an individual is engaged in learning and playing an instrument, all parts "light up" plus new neural pathways are created. Many literatures can be found describing the brain activity during musical training as well as those detailing the implications of music therapy and music education. The collective research and articles regarding this is called the Music and the Brain.

For our children to benefit from music, music education in the school is a great way to start. For those have no inclinations towards music, cultivating musical interest in them may prove to be a challenge. Thankfully, there are alternative and more creative resources to teach musical concepts to children.

Sharon Burch, a music teacher and author of the Freddie the FrogR book series, makes teaching music an enjoyable experience for kids. She teaches musical concepts through the exciting adventures of Freddie the Frog and his friends who live on Treble Clef Island. Using humor and pathos to hold the children's interest, Sharon Burch spun stories where each significant event or character began with the musical letter of the line or space on the treble clef. Aside from musical concepts, the adventures of Freddie the FrogR also present ideas and values to young minds helping them become better persons.

Learn more about Freddie the FrogR here, www.freddiethefrog.com and www.freddiethefrogbooks.com.

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Music Makes Kids Smarter - Prove Me Wrong

In past generations, singing and playing instruments was an integral part of family life. A great way to express and entertain yourself and others. We did not realize it, but we were also exercising our brain while we played, causing us to be creative, more vibrant, smarter, etc. In our current generation, we tend to be passive listeners and consumers as a society, and as a result, short our mental development and our children the opportunity to reach their mental potential.

Humans are "wired" for music. Until recently, scientists did not know how music affected the brain. The advancement in technology allows scientists to actually "see" brain activity via PET scans and MRI imaging scanning the blood flow in the brain. Our brains are "wired" with neural pathways. Most activities only cause a portion of the brain to "light up" with activity; thus, the saying, right brain/left brain, etc. But there are actually four parts to the brain and music makes ALL of the areas "light up" and create new neural pathways as a person is learning and playing an instrument. Those neural pathways remain in tact and can be used for other things besides music. Norman Doidge, in his book, The Brain That Changes Itself, shares case after case of people forcing their brain to change and adapt either voluntarily with discipline, or involuntarily due to odd incidences. Studies confirm that our brain has plasticity. "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" is proven to be a case of "can't want to," rather than too old to change.

Daniel Levitin passionately explores the connection between Music and the Brain in his book of the same name. Google, watch video clips on YouTube, or go to his website. It's an exciting time of discovering how little we know and how much there is to learn. There is definitely enough evidence to recognize it is not in a music teacher's imagination. Music has a huge impact on activity in the brain. You can physically/visually see the growth and changes that happen inside the brain. The possibilities are endless. The implications for music therapy and music education are profound. Just check out PBS video "The Music Instinct." Neurologist and author, Oliver Sacks relays a true story from his book, Musicophilia, where a man was indirectly struck by lightning through a telephone and three weeks later composing and playing the piano for the first time. Sacks believes the man was "re-wired" through that experience. The list goes on and on.

But even if you are still skeptical about music making kids smarter, let's look at the other benefits. Socially, music is an ageless hobby creating interaction with great people. Take a look at any school band or orchestra or top-ranking choir and you will find a huge percentage of the members are in the top 10% of their class and college bound. Striving for excellence is a given in a musical group. Everyone has to perfect their part for the group to perform at their best-NObody "sits on the bench." Everyone has to pull their weight or the whole group suffers. Creativity, especially in jazz groups is developed, honed and embraced. Who couldn't use more creativity in their workforce? Creativity is what makes the difference and gives any company the cutting edge. There are many benefits of being involved in making music, but the neural pathways drives home the point and gets our attention. Scientists are reluctant to state that playing a musical instrument makes you smarter, but all the indicators are there, so let's look at it from the opposite angle. Instead of trying to prove that music makes you smarter or good for you and your child, try to prove that it is not. I can't think of a single reason how learning a musical instrument is detrimental, can you?

Give your child every opportunity and advantage you can. Enroll them in music lessons and watch them grow and mentally develop as they play, create, express, and struggle through the rigors of the discipline mastering an instrument. You will discover a more creative, brighter and mature person in the making.

Sharon Burch, the creator of Freddie the Frog, teaches music to K-3 students in the Centerville Community School District in Centerville, Iowa. Adventures of Freddie and his friend Eli are available in Freddie the Frog Books, where learning musical concepts are learned in a fun and exciting way!

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