Madeline’s Monthly Article & Musical Tips For September 2008
We are beginning a new school year which is a new opportunity to begin using classical music in the classrooms during class and in the hallways and on school buses to and from school. Classical music playing in the back ground, helps students to relax, allowing them to concentrate and do a better job on their work. The new school year is also a wonderful opportunity to start learning a musical instrument to learn discipline, cooperation, teamwork, motivation, concentration and self-esteem. Studying a musical instrument develops millions of new connections, synapses, between nerve cells in the brain. Many of the world’s scientists, doctors, teachers, authors and mathematicians are also musicians. July’s newsletter was a testimonial to the many Valedictorians, Salutatorians and grads of 2008 who are scholars and musicians.
May Edward Chinn, M.D. (B. Great Barrington, Mass., April 15, 1896- D. Dec. 1. 1980 in NYC) First Black Women Physician in NYC, the first Africa- American women to graduate from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, the first African-American woman to intern at Harlem Hospital and a lifelong pianist accompanying Paul Robeson a famous singer in the 1920s. Dr. Chinn’s research in cancer led to “the development of the pap smear, a test for early detection of cervical cancer.” To read more click on the following links:
http://www.sdsc.edu/ScienceWomen/chinn.html
Benjamin Franklin (Jan. 17, 1706- April 17, 1790) was a printer, author, philosopher, satirist, politician, statesman, diplomat, scientist, economist, inventor, husband, father, grandfather, and a musician playing the violin, guitar, harp, cello, Armonica , composing a string quartet and writing lyrics to many songs. He invented bifocals, the lightning rod, a carriage odometer, the Franklin stove and a musical instrument called the glass Armonica.
In 1731 Franklin began the “First Lending Library in America” and in 1736 he created the “First Fire Department in Pennsylvania.” For New Jersey he devised a new currency with anti-counterfeiting techniques and in 1751 Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond established the First hospital called the “Pennsylvania Hospital” in what was later to be called the United States of America.
In 1752, Franklin saw the suffering of families who had lost their homes to fire and helped establish the “Philadelphia Contribution for Insurance Against Loss by Fire.” Where Benjamin Franklin saw a need he filled it!
At twenty-two Franklin opened his printing shop and his newspaper, the “Pennsylvania Gazette” was both well read and profitable and later his book “Poor Richard’s Almanack” became a best seller in the colonies. As “the most active printer in the colonies” he “was appointed the official printer of Pennsylvania” and his “duties included printing money, laws, and documents for the colony.” He also “became the public printer for Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland” helping to “establish newspapers in New York, Connecticut, and two islands in the West Indies.”.
When Franklin “was born, America was made up of thirteen colonies that were ruled by England. Trouble between England and the thirteen colonies started to unfold following the French and Indian War.” The Townshend Act, the Stamp Act and other Intolerable Acts “angered the colonists to rebel against Mother England.”
http://www.gigmasters.com/armonica/benfranklin.html
The colonists on April 19, 1775 “went to war” to obtain their freedom .Franklin was sent by the colonies to Europe to represent them. In 1776 he signed the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Alliance with France in 1778. He negotiated, with the French, for the colonists, becoming the first United States minister to France. For the army and volunteer troops secure guns, and other provisions. In 1781, “when the colonists won their independence.” He negotiated,“the peace with England” and in 1782 signed the Treaty of Peace with Great Britain . At the Constitutional Convention he was the oldest delegate at eighty- one years of age and his health was beginning to fail.
After “ signing the Constitution on September 17, 1787, Franklin “became the only Founding Father to have signed all five documents that established American independence: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Peace with Great Britain, and the Constitution of the United States of America.”
http://www.gigmasters.com/armonica/benfranklin.html
Click here for Madeline’s Musical One Minute Radio Show for September 2008:
What did Benjamin Franklin think about music and what musical instrument did he enjoy playing?
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-radio-show-2008/
“Music & Medicine at P & S: An Inseparable Bond” (2004) by Eric Levy from the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University. When Hilary Spencer was interviewed for medical school at Columbia University he was not asked the typical questions, “Why do you want to be a doctor? What are you looking for in a medical school? What are the qualities that make a good doctor?” Mr. Spencer, a violinist, was asked by Dr. Quest, Professor of Neurological Surgery and assistant dean for student affairs, and a pianist and trombonist – about his interests in music.
Dr. Quest wanted to know about his “avocations, passions, and accomplishments.” Dr. Quest says, “I personally love music. I like to encourage young people going into medicine to continue their musical interests throughout their career. More important to me than an individual’s specific interest in the arts or humanities is their commitment to such interests.” So if you want to become a doctor and are a musician you will want to consider Columbia University with its medical students who are musicians.
Many medical students choose to join “the Musicians’ Guild, a P & S Club Group that sponsors on-campus concerts and presents a monthly series of performances called Musical Mondays. Members of the guild also perform at Baird Hall Players productions, alumni reunions weekend, events for parents of medical students … and other special events.”
Mr. Spencer, a second year medical student says, “Music to me is priceless, life-changing. Music organizes my mind for my studies-it’s highly structured. It helps if I’m stressed out and I can’t focus on my studies, I play the violin for an hour, get focused and return. It was a big factor choosing Columbia over other schools.”
Faculty and students say medicine and music “are similar in that they both apply the rules of logic and demand intense concentration.” Dr. Truman, professor of clinical pediatrics who plays the harpsichord and bagpipes, says “there’s a strong emotional component to music. You can fill up a medical school with students who have high test scores, but you need that humane side too. Dedication to a musical instrument provides that much needed opportunity for expression that translates over the practice of medicine,”
Dr. Cunningham, professor emeritus of clinical pediatrics and clinical public health “was instrumental in the formation of the Apgar Memorial Quartet, consisting of musicians who play string instruments built by world-renowned anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar ’33 and her friend, Carleen Hutchins. The quartet has played at Musical Mondays and at fund-raising concerts for the Head Start programs.”
The instruments are available to staff members, faculty, and “students who want to play them.”At P & S there is also for medical students who are pianist two Mason & Hamlins, a Kawai piano, and the Steinway D Concert Grand that belonged to Rachmaninoff and was “later owned by world-renowned pianist Arthur Rubinstein before arriving at P & S.”
“Rachmaninoff’s Piano a Columbia Med School Secret Treasure?” (May 30, 2006) by Daniel J. Wakin from The New York Times.
http://www.classicalmusicguide.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11749
“An Exhibit of Instruments at the Met Museum” (March 10, 1989) by Allan Kozinn from The New York Times. Laurence Libin, the curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s musical instruments department has in his collection a family of string instruments made by Carleen M. Hutchins , Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and science teacher.
Tullio Simoncini, MD. (B. 1951) Italian medical doctor specializing in Oncology has written the new book “Cancer is a Fungus” and is a musician playing the piano and guitar. He has discovered that “sodium bicarbonate, a.k.a. baking soda, is the most potent anti-fungal substance there is.” He says, “The problem with anti-fungal drugs, .. is that fungi are extremely adaptive, and can adapt to a new environment in three to four days. This renders anti-fungal drugs largely ineffective. The fungi do not adapt to the baking soda, but it is far more difficult to use as it needs to be injected directly into the tumor; swallowing the baking soda would not work at all. Candida yeast is not “one shared element,” so to speak, but rather “social elements,” or colonies, that are highly communicative. Because of their unique adaptation skills, sodium bicarbonate must be administered directly onto the tumor, and in so doing changing its ph very quickly, from acid to alkaline, which quickly and effectively kills off the yeast before it has time to adapt. Dr. Simoncini has shown that 99 percent of breast- and bladder cancer can heal in just six days, entirely without the use of surgery, chemo or radiation, using just a local infiltration device (such as a catheter) to deliver the sodium bicarbonate directly to the infected site in your breast tissue or bladder.” To read more on Dr. Simoncini’s work click on the following links:
http://www.curenaturalicancro.com/whois-simoncini.html
Madeline’s question of the month:
Can a person become so angry listening to Rap or Rock music that they kill a neighbor?
On Saturday, July 26, 2008, Mr. Michael Moran asked his neighbor “to turn down his radio at 11:30 pm on Saturday when an altercation took place.” He “was found collapsed and unconscious. Paramedics were unable to revive the 63-year-old and he died a short time later at the Royal Oldham Hospital. The neighbor, “James Barfoot, 27, of Lancing Walk, Chadderton, was remanded in custody by Oldham magistrates on Tuesday on a charge of manslaughter.” Mr. Moran just asked his neighbor to cut the loud music on his radio down at 11:30 pm. Mrs. Moran said, “We just wanted the music down because it was very loud and it was getting very late. My husband was a gentleman. He got on with everyone. “ Joan added: “Mike was a devoted husband and father who always worked hard to support his family. He had many friends who will miss him greatly and feel the loss. When he retired, due to health problems, all he wanted was to pursue his love of classical music, reading, and watching wildlife.” “Man Died Over Dispute Over Noise” (July 30, 2008) by Stuart Greer from the Oldham Advertiser – Oldham, England, UK.
“Don’t Be a Chicken –Tell Us” (August 8, 2008) from the News & Observer, North Raleigh News. F Benton Ham, of N. Raleigh, wrote in the following suggestion to stop crime in the North Raleigh Town Center Mall: “One thing that has been effective in reducing loitering by young people is for the establishment to pipe in classical music instead of that with a heavy beat. The younger generations don’t usually like it and will tend to stay away just to hang out. I realize there are others who don’t like it either, but it’s certainly more pleasant as background music than rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, rap or some loud diva with drums and a saxophone. I’ve seen this work at mom-and-pop businesses. Why not a mall?”
“Director’s Experience Inspired KSO Program” (August 10,2008) by Scott Barker from Knox News.com. Six years ago Lucas Richman, music director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra began the Music and Wellness Program. He was inspired by violinist Penny Anderson Brill ‘s fight with breast cancer to start a similar program when he was a staff conductor for the Pittsburg Symphony seven years ago. He says, “She used music as a means to advance her healing. It was a source of solace, of comfort.” Richman said the Classical music “effect was immediately apparent on the patients, the families, the staff and the nurses let us know they distributed less pain medication immediately following performances.” He goes on to say, “There’s no question in my mind that music is one of the most powerful devices we have, and we’ve only tapped the surface of what music can do to better our lives.”
“Music Society Collaborates with School District” (July 31, 2008) from the Fallbrook Bonsall Village News. The Fallbrook Music Society “launched an innovative, multifaceted music program in collaboration with the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District.” Brenda Montiel, president of Fallbrook Music Society says, “Youth music education and literacy augment the cultural health of our community. In this rural setting, our young people are often disadvantaged by their geographic isolation from the many opportunities offered in larger cities. This project is unique because it provides music education and interaction between the professional musicians and young children who would otherwise have much more limited access to musical learning and experiences.” To read more click on the following link:
Classical music has the power to organize the brain while listening to it as background music while you are doing your homework , to help you relax after a hard day of work or while doing exercises. Begin listening or playing your musical instrument for 30 minutes at a time. It helps because of its highly developed mathematics and therefore exercises the brain as physical exercise exercises the body.
Evidence & Articles supporting the benefits of classical music in your daily life, in the Public School Classrooms, and while doing homework after school:
“Mozart, MD- Music for Mind and Body” ( June 17, 2008) from a study done from “Critical Care Medicine” evaluating “the mechanisms of music-induced relaxation in critically ill patients. The researchers measured blood pressure and heart rate, brain electrical activity, serum levels of stress hormones and cytokines, requirements for sedative drugs, and level of sedation before and after an hour of listening to piano sonatas through headphones.” Results: Researchers” found that serum levels of growth hormone went up after listening to Mozart, while those of epinephrine and interleukin-6 went down. The levels of all three should decrease with lower stress.”
http://brainblogger.com/2008/06/16/w-a-mozart-md/
“Miss. Classrooms Work to Integrate the Arts” ( June 29, 2008) by Eleanor Barkhorn from the Clarion Ledger in Greenville. Marcia Daft , a teaching artist, has been using her classical music to teach teachers and students, for the last two years, at Melissa Manning Elementary ,to teach geometry through ” singing songs instead of memorizing facts”. Learning through the arts has students retaining more information and enjoying the process.
“Using Music in the Classroom” ( 2001) by Dorothy Lockhart Lawrence, editor of PPOV from the Advanced Brain Technologies, Ogden, Utah. “Welsh science teacher Anne Savan couldn’t believe the difference it made in her chemistry lab. When the government insisted that all children complete the standard National Curriculum, Savan became concerned. For some reason her new group of pupils in the mid 1990’s was the most challenging ever. Her class of boys had special educational needs plus emotional and behavioral difficulties.”
Ms. Savan said,”One of her students had such poor coordination he made 19 attempts at a lab experiment requiring him to put a peanut on a spoon, then heat it in the flame of a Bunsen burner. He never achieved it and his behavior resulting from his frustration was uncontrollable.” While watching an educational program on television Savan got “the idea that music of a certain frequency might help students with poor coordination.” She realized that Mozart’s orchestral music was the most effective “during daily science lessons over a period of five months. The response to the music was dramatic as the pupils became calm and cooperative within minutes of entering the room.”
Savan says, “No one spoke, quarreled, asked to borrow anything, wanted to go to the toilet for the whole lesson. I have not had such a relaxed lesson .. ever.” The next five months of classes with Mozart Symphonies “produced the same results, calm, cooperative students who were able to complete each lesson.” … “Savan believes the music may have relaxed her pupils enough to improve their physical coordination and lower their frustration levels enough to allow them to perform manual tasks effectively and efficiently.”
“Teen of the Week: Autistic Teen’s Piano Recital Marks Milestone” (May 16, 2008) by Wendi Winters, For The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland Hometownannapolis.com. Fifteen year old Evan, who has autism played his first public recital.”He stays focused. He uses the piano to bring joy to himself and others, ” says Carolyn Sonnen.”He did very well. He played his pieces in front of an audience, a first for him. “ Classical “Music is helping him grow. He ‘s getting a lot of external feedback that a lot of autistic kids don’t get.” “Being on stage is a really big thing. It’s a breakthrough because his confidence is building. He is getting feedback that the audience members enjoy and value what he is doing.” Evan “is a straight A student. Since the beginning of this year he has attended Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore for one hour each Monday evening for piano lessons. Classical pianist Brian Ganz says “Evan is a dear soul and it’s been a privilege for me to know him and his wonderful family. Evan is a talented pianist and musician, too.” Susan Bellamy his social worker says, “In the time he’s been here at Hannah More, he’s had tremendous growth in language skills and expressing himself.” “He often will intervene on behalf of another student who is crying or upset and advocate for them. A good student, he likes to learn and come to school and please others. He has a sense of humor and can joke.”
“Going Under the Knife? Ask for A Concerto First” (July 19, 2008) by Susan Tomes from the guardian.co.uk. An eye surgeon in Hawaii played live Classical music for one group of patients before operating on them decreasing stress, heart rate, and other signs of anxiety.. The non-musical group of patients “showed an increase in heart rate and other signs of anxiety when they were in the theatre.” To read more click on the following:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/19/health.classicalmusicandopera
Mrs. J. S. wrote on August 1, 2008 : “One of my art instructors plays soft classical music in the background, and I truly feel my creativity is enhanced.” (August 1, 2008)
Madeline was interviewed (April /May 2008) on her “10 Creative Ways to Inspire Students and Curb Teachers Burn-Out” by Rodd William Stowell, host for “Statewide Nevada” KWNA Radio in Winnemucca, N.V.; Rhett Palmer , host for “The Florida Show” in Vero Beach, Florida; and Shane McBryde and Ron Fraiser, hosts of the “Middle Georgia’s Morning News”. Talk 940 WMAC Radio.
Reviews from radio hosts / producers: — “She is a Passionate teacher! The listeners of “The Florida Show” loved her and her innovative insights into the Power of Music to Motivate and Teach! “Rhett Palmer, Host of “The Florida Show”. -“You have a thorough knowledge of your subject and some great suggestions for helping children to learn more effectively.’’ Neal Woodall, Producer of “Middle Georgia’s Morning News”. WMAC AM 940 Talk Radio. –“Our listeners really enjoyed your entertaining and informative style.”Shane McBryde, host of “Middle Georgia’s Morning News”. WMAC AM 940 Talk Radio.
“I want to thank you for being an amazing guest on my Show. The knowledge, experience and enthusiasm that you brought to my audience was truly refreshing. You are welcome back any time you’d like to be a guest.” Nick Lawrence, Host/Producer WEEU ‘s Straight Talk.