DAVIS, from pg. 23
there would be times I would play my violin for him, and the sound would awaken something in him. As I performed, he would come out of his slumber, his eyes would widen, and it was like he was the one performing. He could talk for a little longer than usual, and he would reminisce about his childhood playing violin. This sense of awareness would only last a little while, but I would live for those moments and cherish them forever.
Now, do I believe music can “awaken” you? After seeing what it did to my students over the years and to my grandfather, absolutely, I do. Music makes you a better, more “feelingful” person; it can make you feel something inside, even when you cannot put it into words. It has been proven that music can tap into the memory of patients with Alzheimer’s. If you want more evidence, just go to the website https://
musicandmemory.org/, and you will see all kinds of research on the topic. In addition to the previous website, I highly encourage you to watch the YouTube video entitled “The Power of Music - Henry Wakes Up! Alzheimer’s patient kicks disease in the butt! Amazing! “
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw7Y78aqf_I .
If I can leave you with a final take-away, it is this: In a world where students are constantly inundated with multifaceted stimuli, the ability to singularly focus is not reinforced. Playing music requires students to be present in the “Now”. When students’ energy is captivated in the enjoyment of the process, they are experiencing pure joy. This mindfulness, a mental state that has proven to have positive effects on mental and physical health, is powerful. I believe that we should communicate this phenomenon to our parents and administrators on a regular basis because being able to create a musical experience where our students can become more self-aware, self-confident, and joyful means that our young musicians will lead more healthy, happy, and productive lives as adults.
asfjkl;qweruiopzxcvbnm,.
24
MISSOURI SCHOOL MUSIC | Volume 71, Number 4
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
