Rosheger, Cristina

"Young Musical Minds: The Case for Mandated Music Education"

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Major: Voice

Freshman, School of Music

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Abstract

Music is one of the most prevalent art forms in the world around us. From elevators to concert halls, we hear music almost everywhere we go. However, music programs in early education are often underdeveloped or nonexistent. An early and thorough music education can greatly improve cognitive functions when introduced at early stages of development and practicing an instrument can even further enrich the educational experience. Music is known to improve visual-spatial and sensory-motor skills, memory, language skills, IQ, and more. In the United States, concerns are coming to a fore regarding American students’ academic performance in a global context, and a solid system of music education could be just what the U.S. public school system needs to catch up to the academic standards of the rest of the world.

Class: Honors 100

Rhetoric and Critical Inquiry

Professor: Michael Raleigh

Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse