Book Review
How do the arts stack up as a major discipline? What is their effect on the brain, learning, and human development? How might schools best implement and assess an arts program?? Eric Jensen answers these questions C and more C in this book. To push for higher standards of learning, many policymakers are eliminating arts programs. To Jensen, that's a mistake.
This book presents the definitive case, based on what we know about the brain and learning, for making arts a core part of the basic curriculum and thoughtfully integrating them into every subject. Separate chapters address musical, visual, and kinesthetic arts in ways that reveal their influence on learning.
What are the effects of a fully implemented arts program? The evidence points to the following:
$ Fewer dropouts $ Higher attendance $ Better team players $ An increased love of learning $ Greater student dignity $ Enhanced creativity $ A more prepared citizen for the workplace of tomorrow $ Greater cultural awareness as a bonus
To Jensen, it's not a matter of choosing, say, the musical arts over the kinesthetic. Rather, ask what kind of art makes sense for what purposes. How much time per day? What kind of music? Should the arts be required? How do we assess arts programs? In answering these real-world questions, Jensen provides dozens of practical, detailed suggestions for incorporating the arts into every classroom.
Source: Amazon.com
In his book Arts with the Brain in Mind, Eric Jensen suggests that music enhances student’s reading and math skills. He cites a study where students who received 40 minutes of music training each day for seven months scored higher than the control group. The group that received music instruction scored in the 88% percentile compared to the 72% percentile for the control group.
In another study by Graziano, Peterson and Shaw, the results show students who received piano lesson and math video training outscored a test group that received English and math video training and a control group.
Below you will find several learning activities that will allow students, young and old, to explore musical concepts and exercise the brain. Feel free to share these activities with your students or classmates. Check back from time to time to find new activities.
If you have activities or lessons you would like to share, please email your suggestions to the band.