Speaking In Tones: Scientific American (Article about Perfect Pitch)

CLICK TO READ: Speaking In Tones: Scientific American

The Musical Brain

CLICK TO READ: Research on Music and the Brain

What a Lovely Group!

Six young ladies show their best violin accomplishments for december 8, 2010 recital in LCA school assembly hall. A string ensemble including (as shown) students BreAnn Adams, Kaitlyn Williams, Katie Scott, Audrey Coulter, Maleah McCain, and Ashlyn Williams perform parts for "Jolly old Saint Nicholas and played in chorus, "Twinkle, Twinkle". We enjoyed it. So what will they do next?!?

Music Therapy Facts:From Neil Nedley, MD's book, "Depression, the Way Out"

• The mental health benefits of music have been well proven.
• Not all kinds of music are beneficial (heavy metal music is associated with higher suicide rates)
• Classical music has been found to be most effective, even among those who do not know it or even prefer it.

"Music psychotherapy, in which people are encouraged to associate mental images with classical music, can improve mood and reduce stress.  After six sessions of guided imagery and music (GIM) therapy held over a 12-week period, 14 healthy adult volunteers, ages 23-45, showed improved scores on tests of oerall mood, and reported feeling less fatique and depression.  The improvement was more than just subjective.  The patients' blood levels of the steroid stress, also fell significantly.

In the GIM therapy sessions, volunteers listened to specific, selected sequences of classical music, including portions from the music of Respghi, Ravel, Bach, an Brahms.  To encourage introspection while listening, they were asked to identify one to three areas of concern in their lives.  They then shared and discussed with a therapist the spontaneous images that came to mind during the music selections.

Thirteen weeks into the study, test scores on mood disturbance, fatique, and depression were significantly decreased, compared with pre-GIM therapy test scores.  The changes  persisted at a follow up six weeks later.  However, no significant changes in test scores or cortisol levels were found among 14 volunteers (control subjects) who did not undergo classical GIM therapy. 

This study did not allow people to choose their own musical preference. Most people in the 23 to 45 year old age group have never been seriously exposed to enough classical music to choose it as a preference. Yet, traditional classical music is the only style of music that has been demonstrated to improve mental health both subjectively and objectively to date. " page 84 in the chapter, "Lifestyle Treatments"

 Isn't that interesting? From another book called "Notes on Music" former rock star Louis Torres references a study with photos depicting how  music with heavy syncopated beats creates aberrant changes in the structure and appearance of nerves! Would we not do well to mind the manner of music we listen to?

HIGHLIGHT Angelic Violin Studios Music Recital/December 8, 2010

Angelic Violin Studios had enough students ready to play in a string ensemble in time for our music recital this past December. We had a wonderful experience playing different parts for Jolly Old Saint Nicolas and Twinkle Twinkle in chorus together. Each student did their best as they performed for the Lester Coon Apison Elementary School assembly time individually. Players included BreAnn Adams, Maleah McCain, Kaitlyn Williams, Ashlyn Williams, Audrey Coulter, and Katie Scott. It is such a joy to see the results of their hard work and the parents' hard work keeping them focused. It is so rewarding for me to be a music teacher! Special thanks to Debbie Williams for her photo contributions. Please let us know if you have a venue for these gifted players to come and share their budding talents!