| Studying the Link | | | | important spiritual and motivational side to music. |
| Over two decades ago researchers in the US | | | | Music Benefits Individuals with Autism, ADHD and |
| began studying the link between learning 'to read | | | | Brain Trauma |
| music and play the piano', and ability in Math and | | | | The combination of these benefits is very |
| Science. This led to a ten year UCLA study | | | | interesting when considering music learning as a |
| comparing results for young students taking music | | | | treatment for various conditions that affect both |
| versus students taking computer classes. | | | | learning and behaviour. Consider Autism, ADHD, or |
| Students learning to read music and play the piano | | | | even brain trauma, stroke or aneurism. For these |
| scored significantly higher on Math and Science | | | | individuals, learning to read music and play the |
| assessments. | | | | piano can be a very important source of |
| Expanding Results | | | | successes, increasing rates of learning and |
| Researchers then went on to prove that learning | | | | improving behaviour. |
| to read music and play the piano has other | | | | Barriers to Real-life Implementation |
| cognitive benefits. Hong Kong university of China | | | | Many of these studies involved large numbers of |
| discovered that not only does the regimen of | | | | young children learning to play an instrument and |
| learning to read and play music increase the rate | | | | clearly required special conditions. It's very difficult |
| of learning new vocabulary, but it results in a | | | | to implement a challenging, multi-year instrumental |
| permanent increase in the learning rate. If the | | | | music program with a significant number of |
| music learning process stops, the increased | | | | students because of the cost and space |
| capacity is retained. If the challenging music | | | | traditionally associated with instrumental programs. |
| program starts again, the rate of learning | | | | Traditional methods are simply too expensive to |
| increases further. | | | | consider providing this beneficial development to all |
| This makes sense. Consider that reading music | | | | children at a particular school. As a result, normally |
| requires the student to look at music notation (an | | | | 5-10 percent of the school population receives an |
| abstract symbol set) and decode it. Playing music | | | | instrumental music education. |
| requires that decoded information to be used to | | | | Adventus offers Solutions: |
| guide ten fingers on the piano keyboard. The brain | | | | Universal Access |
| is operating challenging receptive and productive | | | | Schools and Families can deliver instrumental |
| processes simultaneously, which is good exercise | | | | programs using the software at a fraction of the |
| for the cerebral cortex, and it soon causes | | | | cost per student compared to traditional |
| permanent changes in this important area of the | | | | programs, while retaining the instructional |
| brain. | | | | objectives. Lesson plans enable the teacher |
| Bigger Brains & CEOs | | | | parent to add value (guidance and materials) to |
| One recent MIT study determined that the | | | | the program with a minimum amount of |
| cerebral cortex of a concert pianist is enlarged by | | | | preparation. |
| 30% on average compared to people that are | | | | Reliable Results |
| considered intellectuals, but who did not have | | | | Adventus' software programs are effective, and |
| instrumental music education. Another CA study | | | | are also very enjoyable. Children love to learn this |
| found that 75% of Silicon Valley CEO's had | | | | way. Ideally when the software is used by |
| instrumental music education as a child. | | | | students, the learning process is also assisted by |
| Start Early, Stay in School | | | | a teacher and/or parent. Learning to read music |
| There are several less-tangible, but important | | | | and play an instrument is a long term challenge. |
| advantages to learning to read music and play an | | | | Teachers, whether they're piano specialists or |
| instrument. In one Chicago High School the | | | | parents, are an important part of the learning |
| dropout rate improved dramatically, two short | | | | process. Adventus interactive software provides |
| years after a challenging music program was | | | | special feedback during practice that allows |
| introduced to all students. | | | | students to continue learning and developing skills, |
| Cognitive specialists agree, people are designed to | | | | an advantage over traditional practice. Enjoying |
| be musical, and to develop that ability is an | | | | practice has a big effect on learning outcomes, |
| important advantage, most significant if this is | | | | even in the short term. |
| started at an early age. Musicians acknowledge an | | | | |