October 2008 is the Second Anniversary of Madeline’s Monthly Article & Musical Tips and the First Anniversary of Madeline’s One Minute Musical Radio Show. Many of the world’s scientists, medical doctors, and mathematicians have studied and played musical instruments since they were children. These eminent individuals have integrated music into their thinking process. Classical music has the power to motivate, inspire, and to soothe pain. Over the next several months of “Madeline’s Monthly Articles & Musical Tips”, Dr. Frank will share her secrets from her 2008 summer workshops for teachers, students, and health care professionals. This month we are including a recent student survey on the characteristics of what makes a good teacher. Remember no one is immune to the power of classical music.
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 November 2008 newsletter.
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/contact-madeline-frank/
Alexander Graham Bell (b. Scotland -March 3, 1947 –d. August 2, 1922 Baddeck, Nova Scotia) He was “the third generation of a family of teachers of the art of speaking” and a second generation gifted pianist (Reiman, 1991, p1). http://ieee.cincinnati.fuse.net/reiman/02_1991.html Bell‘s mother and wife were both deaf which “profoundly influenced” him to work on “hearing devices” and led to his invention of the telephone.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Graham_Bell His mother taught him sign language, English, and started him on the piano at a young age.http://library.thinkquest.org/10005/library/grahambell.html One of his first inventions, at the age of 12, was a de-husking machine used in his best friend’s father’s mill. If Bell saw a need for an invention he invented it! He also built a speaking robot at an early age. Later inventions included hydrofoils, aeronautics, a metal detector, metal jacket to help in breathing, photophone, an audiometer (tested hearing) and an early form of air conditioning. At his death he held 18 patents and an additional 12 patents that he shared with others. He was known as a voracious reader always looking “for new areas of interest.” (Wikipedia, Alexander Graham Bell) “He considered himself above all a “Teacher of the deaf.” He taught deaf students to speak. Parents came to Bell for advice and help for their deaf children as they knew he was an “advocate of the deaf. He lobbied to establish day-schools throughout the United States and travelled widely in this cause”. Bell’s secretary was instructed “to give these parents instant access to him.” As a child, deaf and blind, Helen Keller’s father brought her to Bell. She said, “He is never quite so happy as when he has a little deaf child in his arms.”http://www.fitzgerald.ca/html/bell/humanitarian.html
http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/graham_bell.html
http://www.answers.com/topic/alexander-graham-bell
Click for Madeline’s Musical One Minute Radio Show for October 2008
How did the piano help Alexander Graham Bell?
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/madelines-one-minute-radio-show/
Reminder & review for all teachers from Dr. Frank’s summer workshop on her “10 Creative Ways to Inspire Students & Curb Teachers Burn Out!” It’s never too late to remove chaos from your classroom. (3Creative Ways to Inspire Students & Curb Teachers Burn Out!” )
1)Before your first day of school have your “First Day of School Script” ready with the “Procedures”that you will use for your class and implement them by rehearsing your class until all the students know your procedures and understand them. Harry K. Wong and Rosemary Wong’s book “How to be an Effective Teacher the First Days of School” is a must read for all teachers. Their web site: http://www.teachers.net(Have your smile in place, your students seat assignments ready, your first assignment on the board for the students to get started immediately after sitting down and have your classical music on in the background.) *School starts the first minute the students enter for the new school year. Be prepared! Start preparing and rehearsing this summer. Remember students need to feel safe and secure! They need rules.)
2) Before the first day of school decide how you are to dress for success in bright colors to get your students attention. Remember first impressions are the most important.
3)Do you remember the middle school and high school Chemistry and Math teachers playing Classical Mozart Symphonies in the background of their classes and how much better behaved and smarter the students became? Well you can do this too! Put on your Classical music and help your students get smarter and work faster.
Classroom Evidence:
“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. One of her students had such poor coordination he made 19 attempts at a lab experiment requiring the student 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. Chance observation of a television program gave Savan the idea that music of a certain frequency might help students with poor coordination. She found that orchestral music by Mozart was the most effective music “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.” To read more click on the following link:
http://www.advancedbrain.com/Article_Music_in_Classroom.asp
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. I’s fourth grade reading, writing, and math class in the York County Public School District in Virginia. “During the summer, 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. 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”
Reminder & review for all students from Dr. Frank’s summer workshop on her “10 Secrets to Stop Students Boredom, Inspire Them & Make Them Smarter” (3 Secrets included)
1)Have your Classical music on your CD or iPod to improve concentration. Stay focused, relaxed and remember more. On your first day of work, school or shopping have your materials ready…paper, pencils, pens, notebooks, and calculators. Be prepared! Be on time! Don’t be late! Have a smile on your face and put your best foot forward.
2)Dress for success. Remember first impressions are the most important.
3)Be a detective like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson! Think of the right question by putting your classical music on to help you think better like Einstein, Schweitzer, Condoleezza Rice, Judith Resnik, Louis Armstrong and Alicia Keys.
Reminder & review for all health care professionals from Dr. Frank’s summer workshop on her “Nine Management Secrets for Health Care Professionals” . ( 2 Management Secrets for Health Care Professionals”)
1) Before your first day working with your new clients, “Design Your Treatment Plan” with your “goals and objectives” clearly stated. You will have to plan this in advance. Decide on your procedures- rules- and how the first minute you will start to work on teaching your client the way you want their plan of treatment to begin. Clients need to feel safe and secure. When you arrange an appointment with your client be on time! “Consistency is very important.” Have your smile in place, your first objective ready, and have your classical music on in the background.) * Your session begins the first minute the client enters your room. Be prepared! Start preparing and rehearsing this summer.
2) Before the first day of working with your client decide how you are to dress for success in bright colors to get your clients attention. Remember first impressions are the most important.
Madeline’s question of the month: A recent survey asked public school students in grades 5-12, what characteristics make a good teacher.
Many students said a good teacher “is passionate about their subject, has the intelligence to inspire students to learn by keeping the class material fresh and interesting by making the class seem to go by faster and getting all the students involved.” A good teacher “listens and cares about their students never raising their voice and iswilling to help any student who needs help.” A good teacher “thoroughly explains the subject matter is always patient and never makes fun of any student. A good teacher has a good sense of humor and tells good jokes to help teach the material.”
“Home Is Where the Health Is: New Bedford-Bed Doctor Returns To His Roots” (Sep 12, 2008) by Brian Boyd from the South Coast Today.com. Dr. Rocha, 33, has returned to New Bedford, his hometown, to practice medicine with a specialty in cardiology at Hawthorn Medical Associates in Dartmouth. He “received his medical degree from UMass Worcester and completed his residency and clinical fellowship in cardiology at Tufts-New England Medical Center. He completed his training there in June.” Since the fourth grade he has been a dedicated trombonist and “plays for a group called the Fanfare Brass Quintet, performing in eight to ten gigs a year, including concerts and weddings.” He says, “It’s been a part of my life since I started.” Dr. Rocha’s former teacher on trombone, Jack Martin of Dartmouth “still on occasion plays with him.” Mr. Martin says, “his former pupil excels at whatever he does, and he cares about people. He’s very goal-oriented, people-oriented, and he cares about what he does.” In 1997 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from U Mass Dartmouth, Dr. Rocha “taught chemistry and physics at Somerset High School and coached freshmen boys basketball. He attended UMass Worcester for his medical degree. From Worcester, he went to Tufts for a three-year residency and another three years for the fellowship.” Dr. Rocha says he “was drawn to medicine through his interest in science and a desire to help others and he enjoys his interactions with patients.”
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080912/LIFE/809120304/-1/ENTERTAIN
“Mozart Gets Parkinson’s Sufferers Back In Tune “(August 25, 2008) from the N.Z. Herald.co.nz. “Parkinson’s sufferers got their groove back with the help of world-renowned choreographer” Mark Morris and his Dance Group from New York. They “are in Auckland for the first time in their 28-year history” to “perform ballet lifts and poses choreographed by Mark Morris” to the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Ten members of the Parkinson’s Society took part in a workshop at the Civic. In his New York headquarters, Morris gives “dance classes for people with Parkinson’s disease”. Dance helps “loosen tight joints, improve overall movement, and generally lift spirits.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=18&objectid=10528760
“Relaxation Tapes or Mozart Lower Blood Pressure: Approaches could supplement other therapies to treat the condition, study says” (Sep 17, 2008) by Serena Gordon, Health Day Reporter from the U. S. News and World Report. Listening to classical music by Mozart or relaxing tapes regularly, three times a week or more reduces “your blood pressure.” A new “study of 41 seniors living in retirement communities, researchers found that regularly listening to relaxation tapes reduced average systolic (the top number) blood pressure readings by 9 mm/Hg, while those who regularly listened to Mozart saw a 7 mm/Hg reduction in their blood.” Jean Tang, lead author of the study is “an assistant professor at the College of Nursing at Seattle University in Washington.” She says, “This is a simple program that’s very easy to do, and blood pressure did decrease, but it won’t replace medicine. It can only reduce blood pressure to a certain point — it’s like making lifestyle changes.”
“Parkinson’s Disease Patient Turns Her Life Around Thanks To Music” (August 24, 2008) from the gloucestershire.co.uk. “Parkinson’s Patient Sings Praises Of Music Therapy” (August 26, 2008) from Health Care News, Barchester , U.K. Penny Noble was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 47 years of age .She joined a wind band playing the tenor horn ,which she had put aside 20 years earlier, and has been able to come through a range of debilitating symptoms through playing her tenor horn. She says that playing a musical instrument “has had a positive effect on other areas of her life, including singing in a choir, “the volume of her voice was affected” and attending art classes, where previously she had struggled to maintain the required levels of energy. “Ms Noble says: “My plans are to keep going and keep living; I don’t think that Parkinson’s has finished my opportunities. I am much more positive now and have my life to live.”
“Tunes To Soothe: The Healing Power of Music” (Sep. 2, 2008) by Roger Dobson from The Independent.co.UK/life-style/health. In the operating theatre in Hawaii classical music was played on the piano by the surgeon while “the patient was sedated and prepared for surgery.” This is the world’s first experiment for “testing whether music has an effect on health, pain and vital signs, such as blood pressure and heart and breathing rates, as well as levels of hormones and antibodies. Meanwhile, a second team of researchers has found that music has a powerful effect on the immune system, boosting compounds that defend the body against infections. Evidence is growing that music can have a beneficial effect for patients.” Recent tests have shown how listening to classical music has aided recovery after a heart attack and stroke.
In “ South African researchers have successfully used Bach’s Magnificat to benefit mood, boost the immune system and lower stress hormones in people undergoing physiotherapy for infectious lung disease. Regularly listening can also lower high blood pressure. Patients who listened to 25 minute of music a day for four weeks lowered their blood pressure, while a control group who were played no music saw no change in their condition. After four weeks, the average drop for the music group in systolic blood pressure was 11.8 mmHg and for diastolic, 4.7 mmHg.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/features/tunes-to-soothe-the-healing-power-of-music-915528.html
“Hearing the Music, Healing the Brain” (Sep. 7, 2008) by Matthew Shulman from the
U. S. News and World Report. For decades music therapy has been treating “neurological conditions from Parkinson’s to Alzheimer’s to anxiety and depression. Now, advances in neuroscience and brain imaging are revealing what’s actually happening in the brain as patients listen to music or play instruments and why the therapy works. It’s been substantiated only in the last year or two that music therapy can help restore the loss of expressive language in patients with aphasia” following brain injury from stroke, says Oliver Sacks, the noted neurologist and professor at Columbia University, who explored the link between music and the brain in his recent book “Musicophilia.” Beyond improving movement and speech, he says, music can trigger the release of mood-altering brain chemicals and once-lost memories and emotions.”
“Parkinson’s and stroke patients benefit, neurologists believe, because the human brain is innately attuned to respond to highly rhythmic music; in fact, says Sacks, our nervous system is unique among mammals in its automatic tendency to go into foot-tapping mode. In Parkinson’s patients with bradykinesia, or difficulty initiating movement, it’s thought that the music triggers networks of neurons to translate the cadence into organized movement.”
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10398078
“Send In the Band: It’s Marching To Success” (Sep 13, 2008) by Linda Saslow from The New York Times.com. During the last days of summer over 190 students from Brentwood High School in Brentwood, Long Island attend Band and Orchestra Camp to practice for performances, competitions, and other events . These students spend five days together working ten hours a day to be prepared for the fall schedule. “Donna Jones, schools superintendent, said there are many challenges specific to the Brentwood district. Many students have to learn the English language before they can even begin to succeed. Our music program is one vehicle to enable the kids to get strong support and to feel good about themselves.” Charlie Lederer , a 16 year old junior, agrees “about the importance of music instruction for students. He says, most of the students in our music program are in the honors classes.” Charlie is a baritone horn player, and this is his third summer at band camp. Arianna Rizzuto says, “Music gives me a place to go and something to do that keeps me out of trouble. It helps me to focus on life.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/nyregion/nyregionspecial
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. For more scientific evidence, 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:
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/the-secret-of-teaching-science-and-math-through-music/
“Musical Notes On Math” teaches your child fractions and decimals, the fun way, through the rhythm of music, Winner of the Parent To Parent Adding Wisdom Award. For more information click on the following link:https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/musical-notes-on-math/
Tips on how to use “Musical Notes On Math” click on the following link:
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/pg47.pdf
This November 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: https://www.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:
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 and hear Dr. Simoncini talk about his work click on the following links:
“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. “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.
“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 theguardian.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.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/19/health.classicalmusicandopera
“Granite Falls Educator Is Nation’s Teacher of the Year” (April 26, 2007) by Lynn Thompson from theSeattle 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
“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:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/opinion/56776.php
“A Medical Maestro: Can Mozart Treat Heart Disease” (March 18, 2008) by Roger Dobson from theIndependent.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 . 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:
“Quantum Learning Empowers Students Through Accelerated Learning” (Feb. 21, 2008) fromEducation 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