Smart kids in band

[windshieldbug]

Band members must develop discipline

Or kids who are good at band have already developed it. I vote for (C) - catch 22

[Rick F]

My son Brian played euph in the H.S. band (trombone in jazz band) and was class valedictorian out of 980 students. He's now 30 and has his PhD (EE).

[fpoon]

Joe, everything in your last post could be applied to sports as well, or a number of other things.

So will music make you smarter? Maybe, maybe not. I think it, like many other activities can refine your thinking. But make you smarter? I don't think that there is anyway to prove that.

[MikeMason]

replace "smarter" with "more successful" or "happier" and i think you'll be onto something...

[Chuck(G)]

I think it's more about giving a person an opportunity for self-expression. Heaven knows that most of our modern "entertainment" doesn't provide much of an avenue for it.

[windshieldbug]

I think it's more about giving a person an opportunity for self-expression. Heaven knows that most of our modern "entertainment" doesn't provide much of an avenue for it.

Wha,wha,wha,wha,whatever you mean Chuck, ah mean, whatever you mean, bean.

[Ames0325]

I think that something about music that is especially appealing to bright people is that it never gets old. Most classes especially in High school are
A.) dumbed/slowed down for the benefit of other students and so that the school/teacher "looks" good b/c they don't have to flunk as many students.
B.) not to bash teachers and I am sure there are many excellent High school teachers. I myself have encountered a couple. I have also had many many bad and mediocre teachers. Mnay of these teachers do not really encourage learning. or even really teacdh anything we do barely enough to "get by" meaning about 50% of our hs kids can pass a basic skills test and I am not sure even that many can read proficiently at a 9th grade level.
C.) so much of material all you have to do is memorize it and spit it back
D.) even in the classes with good teachers a nd curriculums that required more than memorization and spitting answers I was bored as were many of my friends. The academics in most high school do not encourage teach or allow for high order thinking skills and those who have developmented them find themselves starving for things to do and learn with no where to learn them except books.
Music classes were often( depending on the year and sometimes the teacher) a refresshing change. Thinking and working were encouraged. Not only was there a lot to think about but it mattered what I thought. and in music no matter what level you are there is always something to work on. ( there is always in othere things too but so often hs academics forgets that and says to bright students oh you already know that too bad thats all you get to learn just sit quiet there in your corner until everyone else catches up which time you will probably have gottne bored and read ahead and still be bored when everyone "catches up") Music gives both intellectual and emotional freedom not available anywhere else and I think that is why smarter student enjoy and excel in band.
/end rant

Amy

[winston]

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[ken k]

I think it is unforutnate that we have to use the "Music Makes You Smarter" to sell music programs and quite frankly (and obviously) if that is what one is using to sell a music program, they are missing the point completely.
If you want to teach responsibility, get a paper route. If you want to teach discipline, you can use any activity or sport. If you want to make Johnny smarter in Math, teach Math. The only place to learn about music and musical expression and a way to comunicate to others in a meaningful, non-verbal way is through music. We hear music all around us everyday, both natural and man-made and yet people don't think it is important enough to sell it on its own merits.

Imagine a day without music.....

ken k