Klarinet Archive - Posting 000378.txt from 2000/04

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Music Education = Academic Achievement (was Student motivation)
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 22:06:15 -0400

Michael Byerly generalized: " <jjhugo@-----.com>

<<<Music students, in particular, tend to be more talented and more advanced
students, and they therefore tend to surpass the requirements for graduation
by taking harder, more challenging classes with more homework per night.>>>

. . . and Mark Charette responded:

<<<Oh, as a parent of a few musically inclined children and knowing a great
many more - I'd say their academic abilities are all over the map ... Let's
not get too carried away!>>>

It's probably not a valid syllogism to say that if a student is in the band,
they are academically gifted. Statistics have indeed shown, however, that
if the child is academically gifted, there is a statistically valid
likelihood that they are in the band.

When I was in law school, I had the good fortune to be chosen as an editor
of the law review (generally considered an academic honor). One day I
stopped by the review office with my horns on the way to the university's
wind ensemble rehearsal. As other students stumbled in from their class, we
heard over and over . . . wow! Clarinets! I played clarinet in high school
. . .

. . . so we took an informal poll. While certainly not a statistically
valid sample, I thought it most interesting that fifty-two percent of the
review's editors had played clarinet in their high school band. Note -- not
just any instrument, but CLARINET. 24 of the 27 editors of the Buffalo Law
Review, class of 1985 were in their high school band -- just under ninety
percent.

Music educators have argued for years over whether it's the music education
that contributes to increased academic success, or if academically gifted
students just like to be in music class. (For me, I don't care if it's the
chicken or the egg -- I have already purchased a trumpet for my son, and
he's not yet three.) Numerous studies have shown increased academic
performance by music students. An example:
http://www.menc.org/publication/articles/academic/wallick.htm.

kjf

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