The Importance of a Musical Education

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The Importance of a Musical Education Albert Einstein once said “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician” (“Quotes About Music”). Music has a longstanding association with intelligence, and many of history’s most brilliant people have devoted their lives to it. Study after study validates the existence of a strong positive correlation between all forms of mental ability and a musical background. Unfortunately, only eight percent of Americans claim to play a musical instrument (“Arts, Recreation, and Travel”). The United States severely undervalues the many benefits of a musical education. A musical background stimulates creativity, heightens intelligence, improves language skills, and provides a host of other cognitive benefits. Though the vast majority of benefits from a musical education come through practicing an instrument, even listening to music can improve one’s mental faculties. Teresa Lesiuk, a researcher at the University of Windsor in Canada, concludes from studies that she has performed that a person feels more positive emotions and produces a much higher quality of work when listening to music (Lesiuk). Glenn Schellenberg, who works for the Department of Psychology at University of Toronto, explains how listening to music positively affects performance. He claims that music’s positive effect on mood, as well as arousal level, stimulates cognitive ability (Schellenberg). Professor Chris Brewer from John Hopkins University agrees. When teaching his students, he often plays music which he claims helps his students focus while learning important concepts. According to Professor Brewer, music which has a rhythm between fifty and eighty beats per minute induces a highly focused state and helps students memorize important facts and concepts (Brewer). Though most of the benefits from listening to music occur only while listening or for a
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