Hats Off Day!

Come dance and sing with us as we make our way through the Burnaby Heights! Parade starts at 9:30 and the street festival runs til 3:00 pm.  There is a vintage car show, live bands, live dancing, tons of food, and tons of fun!  The festival area runs along Hastings in North Burnaby from Beta Avenue to Boundary.  See you there!

Music and the Mind ….. Amazing!

There have been many studies and books appearing on the topic of music and the mind and it is truly fascinating!  Of course we know how much enjoyment can come from listening to music and making music.  However, making music can also be a great workout for the brain!  Something as simple and enjoyable as singing creates a great amount of activity in the brain.  As we sing not only are we processing language, but we are also processing patterns of melody and rhythm.  While language is primarily based in the left hemisphere of the brain, singing involves both hemispheres.  This information has become very important as music is now being used for treating disorders and injuries that affect the brain.

Music therapy can be used with a variety of patients including those with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and those who have suffered a stroke.  In the case of stroke patients, who commonly suffer from aphasia (the loss of speech), singing or melodic intonation therapy can be used to help these patients regain speech.  Amazingly while many stroke patients may not be able to speak, they are commonly able to sing.  While singing does use language, the brain uses a different route to access language when we are singing as opposed to when we are speaking.  Through long-term music therapy, stroke patients can regain their ability to speak.

For further explanation on this topic please check out this great article:

“Singing ‘rewires’ damaged brain”on the BBC NEWS website http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8526699.stm

What is the Value of Music Education?

This is a great question!  As a music instructor and someone who has had music in my life for as long as I can remember, I’m 100% certain that everyone and anyone can benefit from music learning.  So of course the value of music education is very high in my books!  While learning an instrument enables one to acquire music skills such as reading notes and rhythms, there are also tremendous non-musical benefits.  One quote that has always stuck with me is that “Music learning supports all learning”.  I truly believe this as I reflect on my past musical training, and at the same time witness the growth in each student that I teach.  Not only are they learning the great joy of being able to make music, but they are also learning important life skills.

Learning an instrument can be quite challenging, but as a student dedicates them self to regular practice they see the results.  All of a sudden they can play that song they love from their favorite movie!  How gratifying is that.  As a result they learn that mastering the song is hard work and requires discipline, but with the effort comes satisfying results.  They feel confident and proud and see that they can reach this goal that may have seemed impossible at times.  Developing a strong work ethic, possessing self-discipline and self-motivation, setting goals, and feeling confident at the end of it all, are all skills that can be applied to any situation in life.  The value of music education is far reaching and the skills that we gain from music learning enhances our ability to succeed in school, work, and life.

If this post has captured your attention please check out this link:

http://musicmakesus.ca/educate/quick-facts/

Welcome to Music Share!

Music Share is a non-profit society dedicated to providing and advocating music education and music therapy. We believe that music programming should be readily available to all children and youth in our community. By contributing to the growth and achievement of children through music, we are creating strong individuals that will thrive now and for life!  If you’d like to get involved please contact us at info@musicsharesociety.com or follow our blog to learn more!