Benefits
Benefits of being involved in the Nazareth Area String Program:
Students involved in the Nazareth Area String Program have the opportunity to learn and perform music that has withstood the test of time. Orchestra literature is one of Western culture’s great treasures. It provides a broader historical perspective than one finds in other instrumental literature. Playing a string instrument integrates a person’s physical, intellectual and expressive qualities. This provides a very positive experience at an influential period in the lives of students.
There has been much publicity about recent research that indicates the powerful effect music can have on the intellectual and creative development of children. One noted author, teacher and musician Don Campbell, has written a book on “The Mozart Effect” which describes how children listening to the music of Mozart have increased verbal, emotional and spatial intelligence, plus improved concentration and memory. In an orchestra, students not only hear the music of Mozart, but they are actually involved in playing his music!
The opportunities for lifelong participation are numerous. For those who excel in musical ability, many colleges offer scholarships for string instrument players. There are many community orchestras as well as countless church music groups. In addition to standard orchestra concerts, string instruments are also used in a variety of other musical settings. They often provide accompaniment for musical theaters and choral productions. String ensembles are used for an endless variety of entertainment functions.
Additional Benefits of Orchestra:
Orchestra is often taken for granted. It is important to realize that a quality musical education has many benefits that extend beyond the realm of music performance. Orchestra additionally helps students to:
- Develop a habit of persistence that will help them through the tough times in life and keep them on task when it would be easier to quit.
- Learn to be more responsible and see that mistakes are an opportunity to grow and make necessary corrections on the road to success.
- Master the skills of cooperation so they enjoy working with their counterparts in every realm of personal and professional life.
Some of the newest and most exciting emerging research shows that there is link between years of musical study and academic achievement.
Students with course work/experience in music performance scored 52 points higher on the verbal portion of the SAT and 37 points higher on the math portion than students with no course work or experience in the arts. And a difference in scores increased with the number of years involved. Those who studied music four or more years scored a combined 101 points higher on the SAT than students with no course work or experience in the arts.
When studied further, the research shows that studying a string instrument tends to accelerate this benefit. To see what researchers, educators and the media is saying continue reading here.
Through participation in orchestra, students can experience an added dimension to their education. I encourage you to take advantage of this enrichment opportunity.