We are dedicating this Mother’s Day to honoring women who are scientists, medical doctors, engineers, mathematicians, teachers, writers and musicians. These eminent individuals have integrated music into their thinking process. Music is a powerful tool for motivating, inspiring, educating and soothing pain. Remember no one is immune to the power of music! Parents remember to have classical music on your family’s iPod
Click here and listen to Madeline’s Musical One Minute Radio Show for May 2008. How did Jeanne Golner, master elementary school teacher, concert pianist, artist, mother, and grandmother, use classical music to teach her students math, science, and writing?
The question of the month:
Name a women mathematician, scientist, musician, and mother of the 19 Century who was friends with Charles Dickens, Michael Faraday, Charles Babbage, Sir David Brewster, and Charles Wheatstone?Ada Byron King, Countess of Lovelace, (1815-1852) daughter of Lord Byron was a mathematician, metaphysician, analyst, founder of Scientific Computing, “produced the design for a flying machine” (in 1828) and was a harpist. She was called “The Enchantress of Numbers” and was the mother of three children. Lady Byron, Ada ’s mother had her tutored “ in mathematics and music” (Moore, 1977, p.1) . Ada and her mother belonged to the “elite London society” in which gentlemen pursued geology, botany, or astronomy. In the 19th Century there was no such word as scientist and “noblewomen in intellectual pursuits”(p.1) were not encouraged. Charles Babbage, professor of mathematics at Cambridge, and inventor of “the Difference Engine, an elaborate calculating machine that operated by the method of finite differences” became Ada’s lifelong friend. She met him when she was 17 in 1833 and corresponded with him on all subjects including mathematics and logic. In 1842 -1843, for 9 months, Babbage had Ada translate the memoir’s of Italian mathematician, Louis Menebrea “on the subject of” Babbage’s invention, the Analytical Engine into French . She understood the device and “was better at articulating its promise. …Her notes anticipate future developments, including computer generated music.” (p.1)”.
http://www.thocp.net/biographies/lovelace_ada.html
http://www.cs.yale.edu/homes/tap/Files/ada-bio.htmlFor more medical evidence, test results, and true stories of the world’s scientists, medical doctors, and mathematicians who have studied and played musical instruments since they were children go to The Secret of Teaching Science & Math Through Music by Madeline Frank, Ph.D. click on the link below:https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/the-secret-of-teaching-science-and-math-through-music/
Maria Goeppert Mayer, (1906-1972), physicist, mathematician, Nobel Prize winner in 1963 in physics for the “nuclear shell structure,” and singer of Schubert songs. She was the mother of two children. Her son Peter said, “She must know every song Schubert ever wrote” (McGrayne, 2006, p. 191). Her father was professor of pediatrics at the University of Gottingen , the sixth generation of professors in her family. She followed in his foot steps to be “the seventh generation of professors in her family, and her son would be the eighth” (McGrayne, 2006, p.199). Dr. Mayer’s mother was a pianist and singer, “a former music teacher” (About.com: Women’s History, p.1. McGrayne, S. (2006). Nobel Prize Women in Science. Washington , D.C. : Joseph Henry Press. pp. 175-200.
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_goeppert_mayer.htm
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/biographies_scientists/72998/3
“Scientists at Work: Christiane Nusslein-Volhard; The Lady of the Flies’ Dives Into a New Pond”(December 5, 1995) by Natalie Angier from the New York Times.
Christiane Nusslein-Volhard, Nobel Prize winner in Physiology /Medicine “plays the flute and sings lieder.” Her mother was an artist and musician and her father was an architect. “Two of her four siblings are architects and most of the children are amateur painters and musicians.” In her family “she is the only scientist.” Dr. Nusslein-Volhard says, “When my family gets together, we play music. We take our art seriously.” Her work was “built on the hoary wings of Drosophilia, a laboratory staple since the beginning of the century, the zebra fish was still an experimental novelty, its ultimate value unproven in the field of genetics” (Angier, 1995, pp.1-3).
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=print
http://www.faqs.org/health/bios/76/Christiane-N-sslein-Volhard.html
“Australian Doctors’ Orchestra: Mixing Music and Medicine” by Catherine Fraser from The Medical Journal of Australia . “There are now over 500 doctors and medical students on the data base, which has gradually grown as more and more people become aware of ADO .” Every year the orchestra meets for three days for their yearly concert. The profits from the orchestra’s concerts goes to a variety of medical charities each year. There are several women in the orchestra who are medical doctors and musicians. Anita Green is a General Practitioner in Darwin, N.T. and Principal Horn of the orchestra. Dr. Green says. “I work part time to fit in music and family commitments.” Cathy Fraser, General Practitioner, Psychotherapist in Sydney , N.S.W. is Principal Flute and Leader of the Woodwinds. Dr. Fraser says, “The need to practice means something else has to go, and that usually can’t be work, so it can mean less time eating exercising or even sleeping! My favorite piece is Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings because it moves me more than any other piece of music.” Ti-wan Ng is a Pediatrician from Perth and a double bass player. Dr. Ng says, “Music provides an escape from medicine and the chance to create something beautiful. Medicine is not intrinsically very creative.”
To read more click on the following link:
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/179_11_011203/fra10635_fm.html
“Musical Violin Playing Doctors” (p.3). Sabine Weber-Frommel is a doctor of Psychotherapy and a violinist. DR. Weber-Frommel is a member of the Bavarian Doctors Orchestra, plays chamber music in several chamber music groups and is the mother of two daughters. Franziska Roelcke is a Neurologist , Psychiatrist and plays violin in the Bavarian Doctors Orchestra and in the Chamber Orchestra Regensburg. Dr. Roelcke is the mother of three daughters. To read more click on the following:
http://www.doctorshobbies.com/ViolinDocs.htm
Elaine Bearer is a biomedical scientist/engineer with both Ph.D. and M.D., and a composer. Dr. Bearer is Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Music, and Division of Engineering at Brown University in Providence , RI . She studied music at Carnegie Tech. and in N.Y. with Nadia Boulanger. Dr. Bearer says her interest is “in computer algorhythms to generate sound. Beyond the mechanics of acoustical perception, of interest to both biomechanical engineers and musicians, also lies the conceptual process linking detailed attention to generative creativity. I work and live at this interface.”
To read more about Dr. Bearer click on the following link:
http://www.engin.brown.edu/people/faculty/facultypage.php?id=1100923684
Eve Curie (1904-2007) was the youngest daughter of Marie and Pierre Curie. She was a concert pianist and journalist during WW11 with degrees in science and philosophy. She wrote a best selling book, “Journey Among Warriors” in 1943 reporting on WW11. “Eve nursed her mother through frequent ill-health, and was with her during the fatal illness brought on by years of work with radium (1934).” She wrote a biography of her mother, Madame Curie, which was filmed with Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon in 1943. From 1945-1949 she ran the Paris Press, a daily news paper. “In 1952 she became an adviser to the Secretary General of Nato and married Henry Labouisse, US Ambassador to Greece.” To read more click on the following links:
http://www.bookrags.com/biography/eve-curie/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2740123.ece
Three articles on improving Parkinson’s Symptoms through dancing with links to read more about the articles:
“Fancy Footwork as Therapy” (April 8, 2008) by Cynthia Billhartz Gregorian from the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Dancing the tango improves balance in those with Parkinson’s.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/healthfitness/story/
“Tango to Improve Parkinson’s Syndrome” (April 8, 2008) by Judy Martin from ABC 7 News, The Denver Channel.com “Researchers say while dance , in general, may be beneficial for patients with Parkinson’s the tango uses several aspects of movement that may be especially relevant, including dynamic balance, turning, initiation of movement, moving at a variety of speeds and walking backward. This is the first study of its kind.”
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/15807817/detail.html
“Dancing With Parkinson’s Disease” (April 25, 2008) from WABC 7 Eye Witness News, Brooklyn. The Mark Morris Dance Group holds regular free classes for people with Parkinson’s to help “alleviate symptoms for many of the participants says teacher, Misty Owens.” She says there is always live music. Donna Davis, a student who has Parkinson’s says, “It’s just wonderful when people with Parkinson’s hear the music, they can move when they can’t normally move.”
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=6104025&pt=print#bodyText
“A Little Music With Exercise Boosts Brain Power, Study Suggests” (March 23, 2008) from the Ohio State Research News.osu.edu. A recent study on the positive effects of listening to classical music, Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”, while exercising on a tread mill for 30 minutes was done with “33 men and women in the final weeks of a cardiac rehabilitation program.” Most of the “participants had undergone by pass surgery, angioplasty or cardiac catherization.” Participants completed “a verbal fluency test before and after two separate sessions on a tread mill. The improvement in verbal fluency test performance after listening to music was more than double that of the non-music condition.” This study was included in the March edition of the Journal of Heart & Lung.” The study was conducted by Dr. Emery with Ohio State’s Evana Hsiao and Scott Hill, and Pfizer’s David Frid. To read more click on the following link:http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/hartsong.htm
If anyone has an experience they would like to share on the benefits of classical music please send it and it will be include it in the June 2008 newsletter.
- Mr. O in NYC sent in the following: “Don’t forget Dentists! Mine offers a headset with his choice. I bring my own CDs a certain M Frank prominent among them.” Nov/Dec 2007)
- Mrs. C in VA. says her dentist has a choice of radio stations to listen to and she always picks the local classical music station. It makes the visit to the dentist’s office less painful. (Jan 2008)
This May 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: www.madelinefrankviola.com
To help your children learn fractions and decimals through the game of music look at Madeline’s, Musical Notes On Math, a Parent-to-Parent Award Winner. Click on the link below:
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/musical-notes-on-math/
Evidence & Articles supporting the benefits of classical music in your daily life, in the Public School Classrooms, and while doing homework after school:
Mrs. C’s high school math class in Colorado : “The students asked for music in class. I told them I would play 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. 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 ”
“A Medical Maestro: Can Mozart Treat Heart Disease” (March 18, 2008) by Roger Dobson from the Independent.co.uk. In London at the Institute of Neurology, doctors reported that a 46 year old man with severe epilepsy for most of his life had tried every thing to stop his “seven generalized seizures a month.” including 7 epileptic drugs and brain surgery to control his seizures without success . Tests confirmed the deterioration of his memory and learning skills in the last nine years and he was being evaluated for more brain surgery. In the last three months, he decided to change his lifestyle by listening “to Mozart for 45 minutes a day” and he has been free of seizures. To read more click on the following link:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/
“Granite Falls Educator Is Nation’s Teacher of the Year” (April 26, 2007) by Lynn Thompson from the Seattle Times Newspaper. The nation’s teacher of the year is Granite Falls music teacher, Andrea Peterson. Andrea Peterson, 33, teaches choir and music classes at Monte Cristo Elementary School . She plays “almost every instrument in the orchestra, sings, composes music, and writes lyrics for her students on subjects as diverse as ocean ecology and Shakespeare.”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2003680199_teacher25m.html
“Opera Enlightens Local Elementary School” (Feb 15, 2008) by Steffaney Clark from the Gulf Breeze News. The students at Navarre Primary School in Pensacola, Florida created an entire opera, words, music, and sets, with the help of the Pensacola Opera Company and their music teacher, Ann Leffard and their art teacher. “The opera takes the entire year to complete” and this is the school’s second year working with the Pensacola Opera Company. Jamie Pahukoa, a second grade teacher said the opera “focused on reading, writing and basic skills. It shows that there are more creative ways for kids to learn than just handing out worksheets. We learn together and it boosts their self esteem and gives them a sense of pride for what we accomplish during the course of a year.”
http://www.gulfbreezenews.com/news/2008/0214/Front_Page/007.html
“Food for the Brain” (Jan/Feb 1999) by Peter Perret from Symphony News. The Bolton Project in Winston-Salem, N. C. Using a classical music quintet, artist teaches, to teach all core subjects in the public schools.
http://www.peterperret.com/bolton.html
“How the Arts Make Kids Smarter” (July 7, 2007) by Mary Belle McCorkle and Shirley Kiser from the Tucson Citizen, Tucson, Arizona. Gene Jones, a retired businessman
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/opinion/56776.php
“Opening Minds Through the Arts” (OMA) On March 8, 2008, Saturday at 3pm, the Opening Minds Through the Arts will have a fund raising Showcase at Rincon/University High School Auditorium and Cafeteria. OMA program “integrating the musical “arts into teaching reading, writing, math and science.” The program began 8 years ago in three elementary schools in Tucson, Arizona and is now in 44 Tucson Unified School District elementary and middle schools serving 19,000 students. The program has 700 teachers and 53 Teaching Artists. To read more click on the following link:
“How Can Music Reach the Silenced Brain” (Jan 1, 2001) by Concetta M. Tomaino from the Dana Foundation. Concetta M. Tomaino as a music therapist has seen what music can do for her patients. Twenty years ago she played at the piano the popular song “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and after a few minutes “silent patients turned their gaze to” her and she heard singing from the patients with “limited cognitive skills”. She uses the rhythm of music for her patients recovering from a stroke to walk and move by. One patient said “he wasn’t thinking about walking, he was thinking about dancing.”
“A Medical Maestro: Can Mozart Treat Heart Disease” (March 18, 2008) by Roger Dobson from the Independent.co.uk. In London at the Institute of Neurology, doctors reported that a 46 year old man with severe epilepsy for most of his life had tried every thing to stop his “seven generalized seizures a month.” including 7 epileptic drugs and brain surgery to control his seizures without success . Tests confirmed the deterioration of his memory and learning skills in the last nine years and he was being evaluated for more brain surgery. In the last three months, he decided to change his lifestyle by listening “to Mozart for 45 minutes a day” and he has been free of seizures. To read more click on the following link:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/features/
“The Famous Neuroscientist Listens in On the Marvelous and Mysterious Ways that Music Inhabits, Enlivens, and Sometimes Even Hijacks the Brain” (Jan 2008) by Susan Kruglinski from Discover Magazine: The Year In Science. In his book “Musicophilia”, Dr. Sacks relates to Susan Kruglinski how he used music- the Volga Boatmen song , after he injured his leg 33 years ago, to push himself down the mountain with his elbows. He was five or six thousand feet high on a mountain by himself, before cell phones, and he used music going through his mind to save his life. Once again after his leg was set he used the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto to trigger “the ability to walk again.”
“Bro Menn’s Musician-Volunteers Play for Patients” (December 3, 2007) by Paul Swiech from Pantagraph .com In October BroMenn Regional Medical Center began offering its patients a program called Music for the Heart. Three student volunteer musicians “play for willing patients and their family members in some patient rooms and lounges.” Bob Brandt, 84, was “undergoing dialysis in a hospital bed at BroMenn Regional Medical Center” while he was listening to music. He “smiled from time to time” and his wife , Barbara Brandt said “that was lovely. I think this is a marvelous idea. A patient in the hospital has little to look forward to. Music is a wonderful addition.”
http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/12/03/health/doc47542631e95f7000997037.txt
“Tango Improves Balance, Mobility in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease” (Jan. 31, 2008) by Beth Miller from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. “Patients with Parkinson’s disease who took part in regular tango classes for 20 sessions showed significant improvement in balance and mobility when compared to patients who conventional exercise, a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine.” http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/10927.html
“Quantum Learning Empowers Students Through Accelerated Learning” (Feb. 21, 2008) from Education News, Trans World News.com. For over 26 years Quantum Learning school programs and Super Camp academic summer camps have been Accelerating Learning through Dr. Georgi Lozanov’s work developed in the mid- 70’s. Dr. Lozanov, from Bulgaria, a professor of psychiatry and psychotherapy used “baroque music, …steady 60-80 beats per minute, melodic chord structures and instrumentation assists your body to access an alert yet relaxed state whereby stimulating receptivity and perception allowing you to perform better and remember more.”
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=37683&cat=15
“Artists as Education Consultants” (Feb 13, 2008) by Marcia Daft from Education Week.(pp.32-33) For the past fifteen years, Ms. Daft, a pianist, has worked as a “teaching artist” collaborating with classroom teachers to teach geometry, math, science, history and language arts.
Performing at Hospitals, Rehab Hospitals, and Retirement Homes
- Madeline Frank, violist has shared her music with patients at local Hospitals and Rehab Hospitals in Virginia.