Mondays Matter: Week 43

Taken from the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways To Make A Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza

LISTEN, PRAY, APPRECIATE MUSIC

-Over 70% of schools are not able to maintain funding for the arts.

-Students with coursework in music appreciation score roughly 60 points higher in verbal and 40 points higher in math on the SAT than their non-arts peers.

-Early musical training increases brain development in language, reasoning, math, science, memory, creativity, expression, and spatial intelligence.

-Every human culture uses music to preserve and pass on its ideas and ideals.

-Music is not limited by age, gender, ethnicity, or time.

ACTION STEPS

1. Listen to your favorite music and sing, dance, clap, jam on your air guitar, and enjoy it like no one is watching.

2. Go see or buy tickets for a live music performance.

3. Sign up for music lessons for yourself or your family.

4. If you already sing or play an instrument, do it today or offer to teach someone who wants to learn.

5. Donate unused instruments to a local school, church or music education center.

6. Communicate with your school-district administrators or national legislators. Write a letter of appreciate for the hard work they do and request continued funding for the arts.

As a child, my parents had me take piano lessons and I am so glad they did. I feel fortunate to have that talent and now our 2 boys are taking lessons and have picked it up quite quickly. I love to be in the kitchen making supper and hearing them practicing their piano. Our 4 yr old daughter is anxious to learn how to play as well. We are fortunate to live in a school district that has a flourishing arts program. Our school offers swing choirs, band, various choirs, jazz band, marching band, concert band, fall musical, spring play, etc. I am glad our children will have numerous options to showcase their talents and appreciation for music. Music is fun, expressive, imaginative, beautiful, energizing, relaxing, interesting, and freeing. Through music, we preserve our cultural heritage, celebrate our faith with praise and worship, remember events and experiences from the past, come together with friends and family, and express our emotions. Music is the sountrack of life.