Seven years ago, Merlyn Fernandez noticed that her 6-year-old son, Rafael, was having trouble focusing in school. A music lover, she decided to sign him up for piano lessons so he could work on his concentration, hoping that this outlet would provide discipline as well as fun. “It was a miracle to see the benefits…more than I could have expected,” she says. “He learned that he could achieve something if he tried.” Rafael’s self-assurance quickly developed, as did his performance level, through the combination of private lessons and his participation with the Metropolitan Area Youth Symphony. Now 13, Rafael not only enjoys his talent in both piano and cello, but also shares it with others by volunteering at church services.

Music Education Trends
The Baby Einstein brand of music appreciation quickly became a household name and a multi-million dollar company producing a variety of classical music and art-themed products for infant entertainment. We might ask: Why did the craze take off so quickly? Well, countless studies conclude that music education for children can stimulate the brain, resulting in benefits such as enhanced creativity and increased academic achievements in math and language, as well as improved test scores. One Harvard study in 2008 suggests that higher aptitude test scores are attributed to children who play instruments for at least three consecutive years. With the sense of hearing developing during the fifth month of pregnancy, some moms have even placed headphones on their growing bellies. However, numerous findings indicate that the optimal window for music exposure is during the early childhood stages, so local experts are striving to hit this target and leave a beneficial mark.

Many parents read to their babies at bed time. Mary Palmer, and independent music consultant and Founder of the Florida Alliance for Arts Education, says music can start at this level by utilizing books with sound effects, adding instruments, and singing along. “The sound-scape creates the mood,” she points out. Through her Connect With Music classes, Mary teaches parents skills such as adding motion, rocking, and clapping, targeting newborns to toddlers along with their caregivers at the University of Central Florida and several local church locations.

Wes Hamrick, Pianist and Director of Entertainment at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, adds that this early foundation of music ‘play’ and education directly impacts other academic studies. “Music symbols and song lyrics help children learn to read,” he notes. “Music helps kids create something beautiful.”

This method of academic integration is the foundation for Palmer’s Through The Arts program. A handful of Orlando area schools are integrating the arts into standard subjects such as reading and science. Students at locations such as Eccleston, Keenes Crossing, and Waterford Elementary schools are using movement and sound when learning about the formation of a cell… a great way to make a science lesson become more interactive and engaging.

Jump on the Bandwagon
Central Florida families can opt to incorporate music into family life in a number of ways, including traditional or specialized methods, private lessons, group classes, and community or school performance groups. “Every child is wired differently. Some kids learn by ear, others by reading music. Some have no fear and just try it until they grasp it,” says Hamrick. “But the benefits are there, regardless.”

A number of research-proved music benefits include:

• Improved focus
• Higher test scores on SATs
• Enhanced critical thinking
• Improvement of behavioral problems
• Less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol
• Less likely to drop out of school

Hamrick appreciates the smiles and laughs of his young students, and takes pride when they are ready to entertain guests on the impressive grand piano at the Grand Bohemian Hotel. He also celebrates the special victories. “I worked with a student who had Asperger’s syndrome, which can affect communication and social skills. The piano became a great way for her to express herself, connect, and gain confidence.”

Using his craft to entertain others, 18-year-old Nathan took on the responsibility of performing at senior living facilities. “Music makes him happy. It’s part of his personality and he’s always whistling and snapping to a beat,” says his mom, Jennie Hess. She enrolled him in music courses at just four years of age, through the Suzuki Method, a technique based on positive learning through sound during the early development years. He enjoyed success at an early age, earning 1^st place with a piano solo in first grade, performing with the Florida Federation of Music Clubs. His Suzuki teacher, Bette Broward Hunting, sa

ys that Nathan is just one example of the 90 students currently enrolled who excel in math and language because of their connection to music. “The optimum time to develop music skills is during the early language development stage because music is a universal language,” Hunting advises.

Nathan’s brother has also benefitted from music education, pursuing a traditional method rather than the specialized Suzuki Method. According to his Mom, Jennie, 17-year-old Sam found his ‘community’ by ‘marching to the beat of his own drum.’ “Sam enjoyed being welcomed by his peers in his school band,” she says. After witnessing her sons’ social and academic successes as a result of music participation, Jennie says with tongue in cheek, “Traveling to classes and performances was the only drawback. But every traffic jam during rush hour was clearly worth it!” She knew the perfect gift for Nathan’s recent high school graduation – a new keyboard to take with him to college.

Mary Palmer says that families should start encouraging musical exploration in their own homes before making the decision to invest in equipment or training. Metal pots and pans, plastic containers, bottles, straws, and sticks can create varying sounds and tones. You can also use your own voice as a musical instrument. Palmer urges parents to be enthusiastic advocates for music education.

Suzuki Method

Introduced to the United States in the 1960s by creator Shin’ichi Suzuki, a Japanese violinist. It is believed that all children can learn from a positive environment. Key components of the method include:

• Emphasis on introducing music at a young
  age (3-5 years old)
• Key focus on listening and environmental exposure, including engagement in local community concerts
• Involvement of parental units or caregivers
• Individual and group practice, plus frequent performances
• The method discourages a competitive attitude among players

“Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation,
and, by studying music in school, students have the opportunity
to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the
world from a new perspective.” – Bill Clinton, former President, United States of America