Shaun

I would like to write my paper on the affects of musical education on academic progress.

This topic is important to me since I am studying music education. I not only want to argue the positive affects of music education to secure my future job but because I sincerely believe that students have a lot to gain from the study of music. This is a topic that is both relevant and has two sides to this argument. It is relevant at a time where schools are looking to cut classes and programs in order to fit a tightening budget. A lot of schools these days are cutting music programs because the administrators feel that the cost to benefit ratio is not in favor of keeping the music programs and classes. That also addresses the opposition's argument, some people feel that there is not enough benefits to justify keeping the music classes in the budget.

During infancy, children learn to follow rhythums and the mother's voice. Even infants are able to understand the basic concepts of music. Many children use songs to learn and memorize useful information. Music has been proven to allow the brain to be the key to higher brain function. There are many test scores that prove that children who have studied music achieve higher scores than those students who took the same test but didn't study any kind of music. Students who are taught discipline in music turn that discipline in other areas of their life.

1. Is there a type of music education that leads to better achievement? (Vocal, instrumental) 2. Is the amount of time spent on the study of music proportionate to the progress of the student? 3. Does music education effect a certain discipline or will music help all parts of a student's academics? 4. What are all the benefits of music education that justify the cost burden on a school's budget? 5. Should music education be encouraged at all levels of education? 6. Is it better to continue music education or just to introduce it at a certain level? 7. Can music be incorporated in all disciplines? 8. Are there schools that have found ways to include music in all they do and what are their results? 9. Are there behavioral issues that can be solved by music education? 10. Do those students who attend a school with music programs desire the opportunity to study music? 11. How can the problem of low budgets be solved so that music education is no longer threatened? 12. Do parents believe their children will benefit from music education? 13. What kinds of development can only be gained through the study of music?

 Jeffrey Lewis Paragraph Shaun Jenkins Jeffrey Lewis has not always identified himself as a folk singer. He assumed this identity after he discovered the simplistic but yet moving power that this genre allows. After spending a short period of time learning to play the piano, Lewis recalls that he felt as though he had much more to learn before he could perform the kind of powerful music he wanted to. He later says that through the guitar he could assemble a small number of chords and still reach the same result. To demonstrate this, Lewis picked up his sticker covered guitar and began to play an original composition. He began to arpeggiate a few chords and lightly sang a simple melody. In response to the question of how old he was when he wrote his songs he first says he was at the young age of twenty two and a recent college graduate. He goes on to say, “In addition to drawing comics, there was this old guitar around, and I started messing around on the guitar, and a number of months later that next spring I started playing at the open mic at the Sidewalk Café and recorded my first tape of songs that following summer.”

=Notes from recorded interview:= · Sticker covered guitar · Balcony/porch · Night time · Sound of the ocean or wind · City lights in the distant background · Soft singing voice · Arpeggiated chords · Began singing in cafes then recorded his first tape · Sat legs crossed w/ white coffee cup in hand · Casually dressed (sweater and jeans)