I don’t have many words of wisdom or comfort in these trying times we find ourselves in. Mainly I’m filled with questions: How do we enact lasting change so that we don’t have to confront these egregious racist actions on a daily basis, even during a national lockdown? How do we heal? How do we […]
music education, music therapy
The Power of Music: Getting Through These Times with the Help & Healing of Music
14
May
May
Week 7 of coronavirus shutdown. Life has changed so quickly, and in a way that was probably unimaginable even at the beginning of March. Whether you’re homeschooling, working remotely, have been laid off, or are an essential or healthcare worker putting in those terrifying hours day-in and day-out—you are likely stressed. You are likely struggling […]
music education, musical instrument, musication.nyc
Building Community and Resisting Isolation Through Music
15
Jan
Jan
As we grow more and more isolated, each of us enveloped in our own social media, entertainment, political and work bubbles, we get more and more depressed, disconnected, and prone to conflict. It’s now common knowledge that social media, the technology ostensibly developed to “bring people closer together,” in fact alienates people from each other. […]
15
Oct
Oct
It’s hard not to open up the news these days–or reach out to your conservative cousin–and be filled with a paralyzing sense of horror and dread. People seem to be retreating ever further into their own little tribal groups. Republicans vs. Democrats; The 1% vs. Working People. And this is to say nothing of the […]
15
Jul
Jul
One of the most important predictors of socioeconomic stability, health and quality of life is literacy. If a child hits their early literacy milestones, they are more likely to excel in almost all areas of their life in the future. A HuffPost Canada article cites a University of Edinburgh study that showed that “reading well […]
20
May
May
If you’ve ever had any involvement with preschools–whether as a teacher, a parent, or even if you can reach back all those years to your own preschool experience–you’ve probably realized just how big a role music plays in the classroom. From greeting children in the mornings and sending them off in the afternoons, to signaling […]
12
Mar
Mar
You’ve signed your child up for regular piano (or bass, guitar, voice or any other type of music) lessons. Congratulations! They are already on their way to enjoying so many of the benefits of learning a musical instrument. But it doesn’t stop there. In order to reap these benefits, your child will have to practice. A regular practice […]
13
Feb
Feb
According to the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the US, although some studies suggest it may even come in third. The Centers for Disease Control ranked Parkinson’s the fourteenth cause of death. And dementia more broadly and other neuro-degenerative diseases affect more than 4.5 million people […]
02
Jan
Jan
Daniel Levitin, author of This is Your Brain on Music, declares that music is woven into the fabric of society, and that any time humans come together for any reason, music is there. “Understanding why we like music and what draws us to it,” he writes, “is therefore a window on the essence of human nature…” In […]
07
Nov
Nov
As many of our other blog posts have shown, there is something truly magical about music: whether you are creating it, listening to it, dancing to it or simply playing it in the background while you’re doing other things, music activates your brain, forcing you to focus, make connections, let go of stress, regulate your […]