It is widely accepted that the best environment for concentration is a quiet one; however the majority of students in the US say they prefer to study while listening to music, and in fact the highest achieving students are even guiltier of this.  Why do students do this?  To block out more distracting noise, to motivate themselves, to stay awake or to calm nerves… Whatever the reason, it’s important to find music that will serve your needs, while causing the least amount of distraction. The type of music a student listens to while studying contributes to how much information she can retain and how well she can focus.  The most common type of music students report listening to while studying is popular music.  However, if a person chooses to listen to music while trying to complete a task, is popular music really the best choice?

No!  Classical instrumental is by far the better choice.  Inspired by the findings of “The Mozart Effect,” I researched this further for my senior thesis in college.  I had 112 participants and my results were statistically significant.  I found that, on average, students score 90% on spatial reasoning tasks conducted in silence, 83% when listening to classical instrumental music, and 72% while listening to popular music with lyrics.  This means that your choice of music could affect your GPA by a whole letter grade!  One of the reasons for this may be that, due to a person’s capacity for attention, lyrics inhibit ability to focus.

Interestingly enough, I found that women are not only more likely to listen to music while trying to complete a task, but they are also more likely to become distracted by it.  So, girls: try to study in a quiet environment, but if you must listen to music, make a good choice and go for classical rather than popular!

To sum it up, it’s best to study in a quiet environment.  No matter what the reason, students are more likely to study while listening to music than to study in silence.  So, make a smart decision and go for classical instead of popular – it could make the difference of a whole letter grade!

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Does music help YOU study?  What kind of music do you turn on when you’re hitting the books?  Stop by our Facebook page and let us know what helps you!

Kelly K. teaches piano to students of all ages and levels in Vancouver, Washington.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music from Scripps College, and joined the TakeLessons team in August 2011. Sign up for lessons with Kelly, or visit TakeLessons to search for teachers near you!

Photo by billaday.

This year, NAMM has teamed up with the Coalition of Music Education in Canada for the eighth annual Music Monday event, in which students across North America will be encouraged to all play the same song, at the same time.  According to NAMM’s website, last year the event inspired more than 700,000 students to participate in the simultaneous concert and celebrate music education in schools. If you’d like to join in, head on over to the Wanna Play Music website to learn more.

We love seeing students so excited about music – it’s what we’re all about!  And if you’re reading this blog, we’re guessing you’re right there with us and that you already know all of the benefits of playing music. In fact, some might go so far as to say music has some pretty cool super powers. Don’t believe us?  Check out these weird ways music messes with the human brain…

1) It Changes Your Ability to Perceive Time
Hold music – the stuff you hear on the line when you call everyone from the bank to your local bail bond agency — didn’t fall into America’s phone lines by accident. It’s designed specifically to reduce the amount of time you think you’re waiting, so that you’re less likely to hang up in anger. Other places that involve waiting, such as doctors’ offices, use a similar trick.

To understand why exactly music makes it seem like less time has passed, think of the human brain as a mountain lion that is eating a bag of money. It doesn’t matter what the zookeepers distract it with – food, shiny objects or just shouting and yelling. All that matters is that they give another zookeeper the chance to sneak up and retrieve the money while the lion is busy deciding which one of them to eat.

Similarly, when your brain is steadily distracted, you’ll be less likely to notice things around you in detail, and this includes the passage of time.

2) It Taps Into Primal Fear
OK, imagine how you would sound for a second if you saw your friend Jason across the street and wanted to get his attention by yelling his name. Now imagine you see your friend Jason across the street, suddenly realize a car is careening down the road about to hit him, and shout his name to warn him.

Despite the fact that you are yelling the same thing both times, even in your head you can hear how the two sound different. Human beings have a very good, very nuanced sense of what kind of noise indicates a greeting and what kind of noise indicates you are about to be mauled by a honey badger.

There are certain sounds that humans will automatically associate with sudden and painful death because they tap into our evolutionary fear of the screams of other animals (and other human beings). Screams of fear in almost any animal are made up of what scientists have dubbed “discordant noises.” Any noise that makes you feel very unpleasant falls into this category. Movie directors know this too and make good use of it when deciding on the score for a film.

3)  It Makes You Stronger
It’s no secret that many people prefer to listen to music when they work out. But music doesn’t just make physical activity more pleasant – it actually makes our physical performance measurably better. When listening to music, people are able to hold heavy weights for longer than when they’re standing in silence. They can also complete sprints in smaller amounts of time and are even able to reduce their oxygen intake.

Similar to the time-perception effect we referenced above, one element is just plain old distraction. Obviously, if your mind is listening to music, it’s not thinking about how much your legs hurt or how much longer you’ve got to run before the treadmill makes that final beeping noise. But there’s much more to it than that – such as synchronicity. When you match your movements to a steady musical tempo, you spend less time and effort on the inefficient slowing down and speeding up that happens when you’re going by your own rhythm.

So there you have it – the power of music in all its weird, wonderful ways. Do you believe it?  Stop by our Facebook page and let us know your thoughts!

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Photo by gematrium.

With a father like that, we’re guessing Evie will be picking up a guitar in no time.  But if you’re a parent with no musical background, it may feel overwhelming when your child shows interest in learning an instrument.

There are so many instruments to pick from, and so many reasons to select one or the other.  You’ll want to consider things like your child’s physical form, commitment level and portability of the instrument of choice.  Of course, keep in mind that many musicians start out on one instrument, and continue on to try out several different instruments as they progress.  So if your child comes home dreaming of piccolos and baritone saxophones, encourage him or her to start with something easier.  The most common choices are guitar and piano, but here are 6 more great instruments for beginners:

- Recorder – Simple, cheap and sturdy. Great for the youngest music students.

- Clarinet – Similar qualities as the recorder, and a great step up once the child “graduates” from the recorder. The clarinet is bigger and somewhat heavier, but fairly easy to get a sound on and operate. From the clarinet, many students switch to other instruments, such as bass clarinet, oboe or bassoon.

- Flute – Another common instrument in concert bands, the flute can be fairly easy to learn. Keep in mind, however, it can be pretty hard to get the first tone out of a flute, and your child may be discouraged if it takes days or weeks to get it right. Advanced, dedicated flute players may have the opportunity to move up to the piccolo someday, usually after four or five years.

- Alto Saxophone – When most people say “saxophone,” they’re referring to the alto sax. It’s the most common saxophone, and is of a size that can be handled by many different ages of people. From the alto sax, students often switch to other sizes of saxophone, such as the soprano (smaller), the tenor (somewhat larger), and the baritone (even bigger than that).

- Trumpet/Cornet - The trumpet is a common brass instrument, and the cornet is a smaller instrument that is very similar. Both are popular with beginners and experienced players alike.

- Violin – The violin is the smallest instrument in the violin family, a popular instrument among younger children who wish to be in an orchestra program.

You’ve got the instrument… need help finding the perfect teacher?  Search by zip code here. Like these posts?  Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!  Click here to subscribe.

You might also like…

- Supporting Your Child In Music: A Parent’s Guide
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Photo by LenDog64.

With many schools still cutting music and arts programs, the initiative gives hope to students and teachers alike.  If your child participates in his or her school music program, you probably know all about the benefits of taking music lessons.  But often, parents are left out in the dark in terms of how to provide support along the way.  It’s more than just attending the concerts and recitals, and you don’t even need to know anything about music to help.

So how can you support your child in music?  Check out these tips for parents from FamilyEducation.com:

Choosing the right instrument
- Ask your child what sounds he/she likes and what instruments appeal to him/her.
- Talk to the school band or strings teacher about your child’s interest before making a decision. Most beginning band and orchestra teachers let students hold and try out different instruments to help them make a choice.
- Allow your child to explore. Many musicians started out on one instrument only to switch a few years later to another instrument with much greater success.

Practice Tips for Elementary School Kids
- Help your child set up a special place at home to practice.
- Establish a time each day to play. Some children are at their best in the morning, before school. Others may do better right after school, or later in the evening.
- Consider using the phrase “playing time” rather than “practice time.”
- If possible, be a positive part of your child’s playing time. Sit with your child while he or she plays and ask, “Show me what you’re learning.” Or, consider learning to play the instrument with your child.
- Praise your child for each step forward.
- Never make negative remarks about how your child’s playing sounds. It takes time and effort to produce musical sounds.
- Provide positive role models. Bring your child to hear amateur or professional musicians perform, or take your child to movies that show musicians in a positive light.
- When seeking private lessons, find a qualified teacher you can talk to easily and make sure your child is comfortable with the teacher.

Practice Tips for Middle and High School Kids
- Help your child set up a regular time every day to practice, and help establish a routine.  This may require some consultation with your child’s teacher.
- Explain to your child that learning happens in stages. Sometimes a student will work on something for a long time with no apparent improvement, and then discover a sudden leap in ability. Other times, learning happens very quickly. The important thing to stress is that consistent practice will yield results.
- Help your young musician set practice goals. Keeping a journal, not just a practice chart, helps track the peaks and valleys of learning a new piece or improving fundamental skills.
- As a parent, don’t make judgments about the musical quality of your child’s practicing. Learning an instrument requires lots of squeaks, scratches, and wrong notes.

Parents, what do you think?  Teachers, what other advice can you offer?  Leave a comment and join the discussion! Like these posts?  Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!  Click here to subscribe.

You might also like…
- Help Your Child Choose the Right Instrument
- 12 Easy Steps to Help ANY Parent Support Their Musical Child (Even If You Don’t Have a Clue About Music)
- All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Music Recitals

Photo by USAG-Humphreys.

Music lessons are a very personal experience, and finding the best teacher for you is often half the battle.  Here, TakeLessons Student Counselors Kathleen V. and Danae G. explore the most important things to consider when finding a music teacher:

First, think about why you are learning to play your instrument.  Are you trying to get a scholarship for college?  Are you a stressed-out business executive unwinding after work?  Are you an aspiring artist or rockstar?  Do you just want to have fun and check this off of your bucket list?  Once you have that figured out, you’ll have a better idea of what you need in a teacher.  Of course, use your intuition to feel everything out. For a student to grow to their full potential and learn the most effectively, safety and comfort are very important.  For example…

- Has this teacher had a criminal background check done?
- Have you seen any letters of recommendation or feedback from previous students?
- Are the lessons taught out of a safe and comfortable home or studio location?

Next, you want to find out about quality. This is something that causes many people to be misled.  If you lower your standards too much, you will end up taking lessons for double the amount of time, causing you to pay far more in the long run and feel frustrated with the lack of progress.

Here are a few more questions that may help you to make a decision:

- Does the teacher have credentials to teach?
- Are there any videos of the teacher performing or teaching that you can watch to get an idea of their style in teaching or performing?
- What level does this teacher teach up to? (Beginning – Advanced)
- Does this teacher work best with adults or children?
- Is this teacher connected to a reputable affiliation?
- How many years of experience does he/she have playing? Teaching?
- Does the teacher have group lessons and individual lessons available?
- Is there any type of Money Back Guarantee if it isn’t a perfect fit?

Music is such a fun, creative way to express yourself, and with the perfect teacher at your side, you may be surprised at how quickly you excel! 

Find a music teacher near you – search by your zipcode here!

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- 5 Key Benefits of Taking Music Lessons as an Adult
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With a family like the Jacksons, it wasn’t hard for Michael to jump into the music industry at an early age.  But for most parents, it will take a bit more effort to involve your child in music.  And the question remains: What age should a child start music lessons?  It depends.  Check out this great resource for intoducing music to your child at all ages, courtesy of Childrensmusicworkshop.com:

6 to 8 Months
Classes for moms and babies are a great way to begin even with children as young as 6 – 8 months. These classes are usually 30 – 40 minutes long, and they require active participation on the part of parents. Programs designed for toddlers 18 – 24 months are very popular as well; these still require parental participation, but by this age, children are starting actively to engage in the different activities in the class.

3 and 4 Year Olds
Programs for 3- and 4-year-olds are now readily available. This is really the ideal age for kids to start their music experience. Most of these programs are about 30 – 35 minutes in length, and involve props, movement and singing. Some even integrate arts and crafts and free play with rhythm instruments and props to music. Parents typically are not required to participate in these classes.

Ages 5 and Up
For children ages 5 and up, teachers should ideally integrate activities such as music games and crafts into the curriculum.  Piano/keyboard lessons are sometimes easiest for children ages 5, 6, and even older. One year of instruction on the piano or keyboard provides a great foundation as children learn basic music theory concepts such as the music alphabet, what a quarter note, half note, and whole note is, what the music staff does, and the location of the keys on the keyboard. In addition, they learn fun kids songs like “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” If piano isn’t their thing, the violin can provide a great foundation for children to start their lesson path.

Ages 7 and Up
Around age 7, instruments such as the guitar, drums and other string instruments can be introduced. The same concepts are covered, but children who have had at least six months to one year of piano under their belt (and thus already know the basic elements of music) find it easier to make the transition between instruments. Consequently, they are able to engage with the new instrument a lot faster.

Elementary School Grades 3 and Up
Most elementary schools provide an opportunity for children in Grades 3 and up to begin taking group lessons in school on all instruments except the piano. This gives them the opportunity to participate in a band or orchestra at school with their friends, an experience that is often remembered vividly into adulthood. The only drawback that comes from these types of group lessons is that children needing extra help on their instrument are sometimes too timid to ask for it, or the instructor’s schedule does not allow for extra time spent with students, which can lead to discouragement. Outside private lessons on your child’s instrument are a wonderful way to reinforce what they are doing at school, and also help them to exceed what the other children in their group class are doing. This can pave the way for the child’s inclusion in solo festivals offered by the State or County.

Looking for a music lessons for your child?  Find a teacher near you – search by zip code here.

Like these posts?  Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!  Click here to subscribe.

You might also like…
- How to Keep Your Kids Engaged in Music
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Image courtesy of http://www.sheknows.com

If you haven’t seen it yet, this Lifehacker.com article about how music affects the brain – and how to use it to your advantage – has been circling the Internet.  Check out how to harmonize music with your daily activities:

Recalling Memories
You might remember reports back in the 1990s that said that studying while listening to Mozart increases the likelihood of performing well on a test, but that has been disproven in some studies, and in turn, studies have shown some music has a negative affect on fact retention if you’re studying numbers or lists. Still, performing music has been proven to increase memory and language skills, but for listeners, it’s better used as a means to recall memories. It has been shown in Alzheimer’s patients to help with memory recall, and even restore cognitive function. It works for Alzheimer’s patients in the same way it works in everyone else.

When you listen to music you know, it stimulates the hippocampus, which handles long-term storage in the brain. Doing so can also bring out relevant memories you made while listening to a particular song. So, even though the Mozart-effect has essentially been disproven, the idea that forming a new memory with music, and then using the same music again later to recall the memory still appears to be a sound idea. If you’re having trouble remembering something, you might have better luck if you play the same music you were listening to when you first made the thought.

Boosting Your Immune System
The idea that listening to music can boost your immune system might sound a little crazy on the surface, but the science backs it up. Soothing music is known to decrease stress, and when it does that, it decreases the level of the stress hormone cortisol. It’s not just soothing music though, even upbeat dance music is known to increase the level of antibodies in your system. Dr. Ronny Enk, who lead the recent research about music’s effect on the immune system suggests, “We think the pleasant state that can be induced by music leads to special physiological changes which eventually lead to stress reduction or direct immune enhancement.”

Now that the cold season has set in, it’s a good idea to keep this in mind throughout the day. If you’re feeling stressed out or if you’re starting to feel ill, listening to music might be the extra help you need to stay well.

Fighting Fatigue & Increasing Productivity
The effect of using music to increase productivity is still inconclusive, even though a few studies were done on the subject. Regardless, it certainly doesn’t hurt, and it seems the best option might be to use music without words so it doesn’t affect the language parts of your brain. The theory is similar to using upbeat music to amp up your workouts, as faster music might keep you and your brain working hard.

That said, if you have a monotonous job, music is a great way to increase your mood while performing boring work. For the same reason it helps with exercising, it can also help with fighting fatigue, especially if you change up the music often. Studies have also shown that almost all music increases your mood, because it causes a release of dopamine, so if you’re feeling tired, bored, or depressed, a good pop song might be the cure you need.  (Feel better about Ke$ha now?)

What benefits have you seen when you listen to music?  We want to know – leave a comment below! Like these posts?  Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!  Click here to subscribe.

You might also like…
- All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Music Recitals
- 5 Key Benefits of Taking Music Lessons as an Adult
- Supporting Your Child in Music: A Parent’s Guide

Image courtesy of http://www.infobarrel.com/5_Ways_Music_Can_Benefit_Your_Life

Booking Agent (or Talent Agent)
Booking agents work to secure performance engagements for musical artists and groups. They work to find talent to book and may be involved with developing the talent toward a goal. They must possess good communication skills to sell talent and develop contacts in the music industry. They often work closely with an act’s manager and may be involved in setting the fee and negotiating with promoters or clubs. A booking agent is paid a percentage of the negotiated fee for an act’s performance.

Entertainment Attorney
An entertainment attorney handles any contractual matters conceivable within the entertainment industry. Entertainment attorneys can be freelance, hired on retainer, or an employee of a company or business within the entertainment industry. Entertainment attorneys generally specialize in one of three separate fields within the entertainment industry: sports, film and television, and music. An attorney that specializes in the music industry usually has a solid depth of understanding with regard to copyright laws and artist/band agreements with managers, publishers, record labels, booking agents, etc. Successful completion of law school and a state bar exam are requisites for being an entertainment attorney, as well.

Publicist (or Staff Publicist, Press Agent)
A publicist handles the publicity and press needs of acts signed to a label. Publicity helps the label sell records and produce income. A publicist must be able to get an artist’s name in the news (magazines, music trades, TV, radio, etc.) as often as possible. This is accomplished by writing press releases, sending them to the correct media, talking to media about acts, and arranging interviews. The publicist often arranges a series of print interviews, radio interviews, and TV appearances in conjunction with the release of a new record. Staff publicists spend a lot of time on the telephone and are usually the first to send out promotional copies of new records and other important materials to the media. After a new record is released, a publicist may work with the A&R or promotional departments on a showcase booking of the group, and make arrangements for a press party.

Music Publisher
Music publishers are responsible for acquiring the copyrights to songs and publishing them. They may work for a very large music publishing company and perform one or two specific duties as a music publisher. They may work for a relatively small firm and fulfill a variety of functions. Many individuals in music publishing or songwriting become independent music publishers, running their own music publishing firm. The goal of the music publisher is to find and acquire potential hit songs (copyrights) and songwriters, promote them for financial gain, and serve as copyright administrator whereby tracking, licensing, and payment collection can be done efficiently. A good music publisher has knowledge of all facets of the music business, an understanding of music industry dynamics, an ability to hear hit tunes, knowledge of copyrights laws, and contacts in the music business.

Tour Coordinator
The tour coordinator is responsible for coordinating the many facets of an act’s tour, including travel, lodging, arranging for services, and budgeting for expenses.

Sound Technician
Sound technicians are responsible for high-quality sound during the live performance. They usually arrive at the concert site before the performers and are involved in unloading and setting up the equipment and instruments along with the road crew. The sound technician supervises the placement of equipment and works with the talent during the sound check to achieve the best sound. They may even work a soundboard during the actual performance.

The list goes on and on: music supervisor for TV and movies, music journalist or critic, music therapist, and of course, radio DJ.  The NAfME Career Center page and the Careers page for Berklee’s College of Music are great resources to check out if you need some guidance.  So if you’re in college now – or ready for a career change – consider these options if you can’t carry a tune!

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Although some of the American Idol hype has died down in the past few years, its impact on fans is still clear.  Idol hopefuls still line up by the thousands, for the chance to win America’s heart and catapult into celebrity status.

McCreery’s success got us thinking about how teachers can incorporate American Idol into music lessons.  After all, private music lessons are a great way to brush up on your technique before an audition for American Idol, X-Factor, or any of the other talent shows.

Yahoo! News Associated Content brought up just a few ways the show can be used as a learning tool:

1. Music History

In many weeks on American Idol, the songs chosen by the competitors must come from a particular artist or genre. For example, themes have included Elvis Presley, Motown, The Beatles, and songs from the movies. Each theme can be expanded into a lesson on how that artist or style impacted the development of popular music and how it fits into the context of today’s music. A music history lesson about Elvis could include an exploration of Southern roots music and its beginnings on plantations and in juke joints. The phenomenon that was The Beatles can be framed in musical influences that arrived in port cities in England like Liverpool and how it affected the popular music of that country.

2. Music Genres

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Recently, I went on a two week trip to sunny Northridge, California, where I got to work with amazing artists and teachers to help develop my craft. What is my craft you say? Singing – more specifically, opera singing.

The program I took part in, OperaWorks, provided me with much more insight than I initially expected. Living in an age of doubt, I immediately felt like it might not have been worth my money. But after two weeks I was pleased to see that there were noticeable changes not only in my music, but also in my life.

Let’s take a closer look at how my training in music affected my life and my world:

Opera-ism #1: I am AWESOME. This was a technique I learned to help prepare myself for an audition. By giving myself a pep talk before walking through the door, I am able to walk in with confidence.

So how does this apply to my life? Well, aside from teaching, I have a normal day-to-day job in sales. And as part of that job, I have to provide people with a service or product. This can be really nerve-wracking because I hate sales people myself. I recently went to buy a car and the worst part about the whole experience was the salesman. I already knew I was going to buy a car, I had already researched the car that I wanted and he just seemed to get in the way. Because of experiences like these, I try to steer myself away from being a “pushy” sales guy.

When I applied my “I am AWESOME!” pep talk to my day-to-day job, I found that it was a lot easier for me to sell to people without being pushy or being pushed over. I was able to confidently talk about products, build relationships with my clients and actively listen and respond to their concerns. Essentially, being AWESOME allowed me to be myself when I was on the phone, and let my personality shine. What I learned from this is products don’t sell – people do.

Opera-ism #2: Music is not what’s written on the page, it is what the performers make of it. The intention of the composer was not that the performer sing the song exactly how it was written, in a robotic fashion, but to add expression and interpretation to it.

This came to light for me when I sang an operatic aria (Love Sounds the Alarm from Acis and Galatea), which is a love song.  Rather than expressing lovey-dovey emotions, this aria became a “war speech” in OperaWorks. I was inspiring a nation to defend itself against its enemies. The whole meaning of the song changed, but it was really effective.

The real life experience happened in learning my “pitch.”  You can always hear the sales pitch coming when you’re on the phone with a salesman.  Well, I realized it’s not about the words, it’s about the meaning. Upon returning, having already memorized the pitch, I started to implement the meaning of the words, and tie them back to the desires of my customers.

What I’ve learned as a performer has more than affected my life – it has changed me. I went into OperaWorks as an insecure performer and came out a confident man. The results speak for themselves. My performance at work has improved, and my personal life is much happier and free. This just goes to show that things shouldn’t be taken at face value. What you learn in school might actually apply to real life. Who knew?

-Bryan B.

TakeLessons Instructor