We want to wish all of our readers a Happy Valentine’s Day! Remember to start your Romantic Day right by listening to Classical music which has the power to improve your mood, make you smarter, help you work faster with more accuracy, improves health and healing, grows healthier plants in fewer days, increases sales in stores, and can soothe your mind preventing crime. If school cafeterias and school buses played Classical Music, the students would be calmer and more focused without violent tendencies.
If anyone has an experience they would like to share with our readers on the benefits of classical music please send it and it will be include it in the March 2009 newsletter
Madeline’s Musical One Minute Radio Show for February 2009.
How do the complex rhythms and melodies of the Classical music tradition play a part in Connie Soles’ work with individuals with Autism, Tourette’s Syndrome, Dyslexia, CAPD, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, Stroke and other serious brain disorders and injuries?
“Somewhere, Over in Crenshaw: Music Makes a Difference-A Music Academy Teaches Harmony..for a Song” by Amy Miller ( Jan. 7, 2009) from the edutopia.org.
Chan Ho Yun created a non- profit school in the inner city Crenshaw district of south Los Angeles, an inner city where doors and windows are protected by steel bars and with “gang bangers in the neighborhood”. In the Rainbow Music Academy the sixty students feel safe learning the violin, viola, cello, double bass or trumpet. Daniels, the grandmother of one of the music student’s says, “These children have a right to know something else besides police helicopters flying overhead and gunshots and violence. And when you learn music, you have something for life, something no one else can take away.”
“Stores Blast Out Classical Music to Deter Gangs – VIDEO” (Jan 22, 2009) from The Star serving South Yorkshire, www.thestar.com.uk. “CO-OP stores in South Yorkshire are playing classical music from outdoor loud speakers to deter gangs of hooligans from congregating outside. Concertos, overtures, minuets and symphonies are being broadcast from the shops to drive away anti-social yobs who gather outside at night, causing trouble and intimidating customers.” Jamie Parker, manager said, “It really does seem to work.” Peter Cooper, manager of the Co-op regional prevention loss prevention says, “the move was having the desired effect because the music made the area less “cool” for hip-hop-loving teens to gather.We had an issue with young people hanging around outside the stores which was intimidating for shoppers and staff. This problem has been dramatically reduced since we introduced the music. The youngsters are definitely not classical music fans, and tend to disappear as soon as we turn the music on.”
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Stores-blast-out-classical-music.4901823.jp
“The Classic Way to Drive Youths Away” ( Jan 21, 2009) by Charlotte Cox from the Mcclesfield Express. “The Boss of a Weston shop says the secret to deterring gangs of youths is simple – just get Mozart and Tchaikovsky on the rota.” Ray Toft, 48,Co-op store manager, has been blasting out classical tunes from speakers since Christmas in a bold bid to make the Ivymeade area a “less cool” hangout and deter troublemakers.” He says: “We’ve had some trouble with gangs – but this music really is working!”
http://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/s/1091880_the_classic_way_to_drive_youths_away
Question of the Month: Can Rap music cause a murder and can the Court’s free a murderer?
James Barfoot, 27, was asked by his neighbor Michael Moran, 63 ,to please cut off the loud rap music late at night . Mr. Barfoot refused to turn down his music “began swearing towards Mr. Moran who remained calm and conciliatory, and reiterated his request. In doing so, he put his hand on the defendant’s shoulder, not in any aggressive fashion, but probably in an effort to try and elicit a more favorable response. This unleashed from the defendant another furious and abusive response.” The court was told that ‘goaded’ by Mr Barfoot, Mr. Moran punched him once in the face, and was then punched three times back – the last ‘with a degree of force that knocked him off his feet and rendered him unconscious. ‘A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This prosecution was brought in the same way that all prosecutions are brought; in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.”Our test is always whether there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it would be wrong to only bring cases where we were guaranteed a conviction.”
“Manslaughter trial collapses” (Dec 12, 2008) by Don Frame. This is how Mr. Barfoot got away with murdering Michael Moran!!
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1085519_manslaughter_trial_collapses
Testimonials on “Madeline’s Monthly Article & Musical Tips”& “One Minute Radio Show”:
Mr. N. G writes: I look forward to your monthly newsletter. It is full of interesting and unusual information. Thank you for all your wonderful work! Jan 2009
Dr. R. F., “This was your best newsletter. Jan. 2009
“New Research Links Music to Increased Brain Power” (Dec 15, 2008) by Lois Thome, WINK News.How studying a musical instrument improves students school work. “Harvard researchers followed 41 kids who practiced either the piano or a stringed instrument for at least three years and compared them to 18 kids who only took a general music class in school. They found that those kids who practiced an instrument scored better on certain tests that measured visual and verbal ability.” Dr. Drummond says, “Some analogy has been made that it’s like cross-training in exercising – that by working different parts of your brain actively, you can improve functioning in many different areas.” The study determined that “the longer and more intensely” the students practiced on their piano or stringed instruments, “the better they did on the tests.”
http://www.winknews.com/features/education/36198994.html
“Indian Conductor Mathew Returns to Carnegie With Third Charity Concert” (Dec 27, 2008) from theIndiaPost.com. The Classical music of Mahler’s 3rd Symphony on January 12, 2009 is raising money to fight Aids and teach awareness about this deadly disease in Children.
http://indiapost.com/article/lifestyle/4951/
“Stanford’s Newest Stem Cell Expert Strikes All The Right Notes” ( Jan. 15, 2009) frommednews.stanford.edu. “Marius Wernig arrived at Stanford recently with a worldwide reputation for creating induced pluripotent stem cells from adult skin cells. What is less known is his success in composing classical music and opera, with pieces having premiered in Bonn, Cologne and Vienna.” Dr. Wernig, the new assistant professor of pathology at the Stanford University School of Medicine says, “The two fields have a lot of parallels. Both require creativity, and are yet highly structured. Composing operates with a set of rules, or tonal system, while biological research utilizes sets of common experiments to explore various hypotheses. Much like research, every musical piece has multiple things going in parallel and in sequence. And yet with every new discovery, we have to refine and reconsider the model that we had yesterday. Stanford has fostered a wonderful environment in which really good researchers with diverse interests and specialties pull together to attack the same problem from different angles.” Dr. Wertig says. “I’m really excited to be here.”
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/135458.php
“Henrietta Kuritza, 1928-2008: Taught science to student nurses and at Malcolm X College” (Dec 31, 2008) by Trevor Jensen| from the Chicago Tribune.com. Mrs. Kuritza “taught anatomy and other sciences to a generation of nurses at Chicago area hospitals” and was a lifelong classical pianist. Barbara Campbell studied with Mrs. Kuritza at Lutheran General Hospital. She says, “She was tough. She really demanded excellence from her students. But she made anatomy and physiology interesting. Campbell remembered Mrs. Kuritza .. sitting down in the nurses’ lounge to play classical music on the piano, another aspect of a woman students saw as a true intellectual force at the school. It was teachers specifically like her that really were an inspiration.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-hed-kuritza-31-dec31,0,4211816.story
“Studies Shows That Classical Music Can Lower Cholesterol” (Dec.26, 2008) by David Johnson from the Citizen Happynews.com/news. “Recent studies show that prescribing music can improve heart health and lower cholesterol levels. The research found that if a person listens to 30 minutes a day of their favorite music, not only can it help him/ her relaxing mentally but it can also benefit him physically by expanding and clearing blood vessels. This musical/ medical benefit is believed to work by triggering the release into the bloodstream of nitric oxide, which helps to prevent the build-up of blood clots and harmful cholesterol.” Michael Miller, director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology Maryland University says, “The music effect lasts in the bloodstream for only a few seconds but the accumulative benefit of favorite tunes lasts and can be very positive in people of all ages. We were looking for cheaper, non-pharmacological aids to help us improve our patients’ heart health and we think this is the prescription.”
http://www.happynews.com/news/12262008/study%20shows%
20classical%20music%20lower%20cholesterol.htm
“The Gift of Music” (Dec 27, 2008) by Murray Charters from the Expositor. The continuing value of Classical music performances to keep giving after the holidays.
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1364065
“Corley Named Principal of Red Cedar Elementary” (Dec. 17, 2008) by Kate Cerve from the Beaufort Gazette.com. In late summer 2009 the new Red Cedar Elementary School will open with Kathleen Corley as its new first principal. “Corley began her career as a comprehensive music teacher in Illinois in 1980 after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, the release said. In 1984, she earned a Master of Music Education and Administration degree from Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University. Ten years later, she earned a Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.” Dr. Corley has worked as an academic improvement officer for the schools in Bluffton. “The Beaufort County school board unanimously approved” her appointment. Musicians are very talented in organizing and getting things done right!
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/700410.html
’’Light Goes On to Top Job at Franklin High School” (Jan 11, 2009) by Michelle Laczkoski from the Milford Daily News in Milford, MA. The new acting Principal at Franklin High School is Peter Light, Assistant Principal. He taught music in Horace Mann Middle School and has degrees in educational administration and music.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x301541543/Light-goes-on-to-top-job-at-Franklin-High-School
“Hard Work Pays Off for Talented Wrexham Music Student” (Jan 14, 2009) from the Evening Leader. Co. U.K. News. “Julie-Anna, aged 26, has received the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Award and gained top recognition for being the best music student from the examination body WJEC.” She studied at Yale College in Wrexham “A levels in human biology, classical civilization and music. She has suffered poor health which had previously prevented fulfilling the ambition to develop her musical talent.” Tim Jones, music program coordinator at Yale says, “She is a talented singer and clarinetist. She gained the highest A level score in music from all WJEC entrants last year with full marks in performance and composition as well as winning the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Award.” Gareth Pierce, chief executive of WJEC examination board says, “There are fitting rewards for one of the most hard-working and conscientious students I have known, who put in hours of extra work in preparation for the exam. This is an outstanding achievement and evidence of the hard work that Julie-Anna and her tutor put into preparation.”
http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/news/Hard-work-pays-off-for.4875874.jp
This February if you have a question about the power of music for education and healing … what would your specific question be? Click on the link below and look on the left side to where it says ask Madeline a question:madelinefrankviola.com
Evidence & Articles supporting the benefits of classical music in your daily life, in the Public School Classrooms, and while doing homework after school:
Mrs. S teaches 7th grade Math at Davis Middle School in Hampton, VA.: “Students perform better on tests and quizzes while listening to Mozart Symphonies in the background..” (Dec 1, 2008)
Mrs. I’s fourth grade reading, writing, and math class in the York County Public School District in Virginia. “During the summer of 2008, I taught students from all the schools in the county. About the middle of the term, I decided to start playing classical music while students worked independently. I noticed that students were more focused on tasks than they had been previously while doing independent work. They also talked to each other less. One day, when I forgot to turn on the music, a number of the students came up to me and reminded me to turn it on. At the end of the term, all the students had reached their academic goals in both subjects, (reading and math) and most had gone way beyond their goals. (Most of the student’s scores went up 15% to 36% higher.) I know that the atmosphere that was created by the classical music contributed a lot to this.” (Sep 24, 2008)
Mrs. C’s high school math class in Colorado: “The students asked for music in class. I told them I wouldplay only Mozart. At first they objected but soon decided they liked the music, because it made them feel better and able to focus more on their lessons. Consequently, not only did the grades get better, so did the discipline. Then the students began requesting Mozart. “
Mrs. G had her fifth grade students listening to classical music, played softly, while the children did creative writing assignments and when they did problem solving in math. It created a calm atmosphere conducive to problem solving and creative thinking as well as an appreciation of music that they might not have experienced. The results were so good that she incorporated this into her teaching for the last five years of her teaching career.
Mrs. JC had her fourth grade reading class of 22 students, listening to Mozart and other classical music during class for the entire school year .The children have consistently made 100’s on tests and work. These are just average students not exceptional.
Mrs. J has 3 children, ages 16, 12, and 8 who have been listening to Mozart and other classical music while doing their homework after school since March 05. She has seen them become more focused and relaxed, finishing homework quicker, with more accuracy which has led to higher grades.
Northside Middle School in Norfolk, Virginia is using classical music in halls and class rooms with very good success. “Classical Music Plays at Norfolk School”