Attention May Link Arts and Intelligence

Comments

Music and the Brain
Susan Ciminelli

12/8/2009 7:52:59 PM

 My fellow educators and I saw first-hand how Music instruction through Dalcroze methodology could increase students' skills and understanding in ELA and Math. I hold a Master's in Music with a Certificate in Dalcroze methodology. I taught K - 6 using this method along with iconic and symbolic instruction in rhythmic and melodic notation. Students' reading and math skills improved and as a result, the District had me teach music 5 days in a 6 day schedule to children who were not successful in Kindergarten. These students later excelled, and some students were promoted back to their original cohort grade level. I am a Principal now, but am keenly interested in the Brain research findings that link movement and music training to learning in other academic areas.