After reading my feedback from module 2 my line of inquiry is now:
Could Music and Movement be used to play a more significant role in Early Years Development and learning?
Paula quite rightly pointed out that I need more literature arguing against music and movement having an impact on long term intelligence, so this week I have been busy researching:
Donald Hodges poses the question, 'Does Music really make you smarter?' He challenges this question. Initially, the idea that music could make you more intelligent was based on a very narrow research project in Georgia. It had been stated that 'music instruction might enhance learning' and therefore the Government got on the bandwagon and wanted to give a "Music Makes You Smarter" CD to every newborn child! they had hoped it would make the generation smarter which meant they would do better at school.
Another study that took place required 36 college students which examined their spatial reasoning. There were 3 different studies and because the Mozart one came out on top, it was assumed that listening to Mozart made you more intelligent!
Both of these studies prove that many people are quick to assume and jump on the band wagon and follow what others are doing. Hodges gives a great example of this; In the 1970's people exaggerated the fact that music developed the right side of the brain. In fact we now know that music is in every part of the brain. However, in the 70's many people believed the right side of the brain would not develop properly, resulting in possible brain damage, if music was not integrated in their children's lives! Crazy hey!!
Hodges talks about the connection between musical experience and SATs results. this is something I touched upon in Module 2. I am currently working in a school with 40% pupils on pupil premium, it may be a case of them not being able to afford music lessons. Home environments where education is supported may be those families with a more fortunate background. Hence, there is no definite link between partaking in music lesson and results at school.
One thing that I found extremely interesting is when Hodges stated:
'Would it be reasonable to assume that the music faculty is smarter than the astrophysicists, the biochemists, the philosophers, or any other faculty group simply because they had heard more Mozart?'
Jean Blaydes asks the question, 'Does exercise make you smarter?'
Blaydes has a similar argument to that of Hodges. Are physical education student brighter than students studying Science? It is not that it makes you more intelligent, however if you have the right nutrition, water, exercise and sleep to stimulate your brain then yes you are ready to work and study as your brain will be more active.
There are many studies that show the link between exercise and improved student outcomes. Bales feels that more evidence is needed in Neuroscience to actually prove that exercise makes us smarter.
I agree that being physically active makes you feel better and gives you a positive experience... but does it actually affect intelligence and outcomes for children? I'm not sure now!
Bales believes that music moulds our brains into specific types of thinking. She uses the example of classical music. With classical music having more of an intricate structure, it has been said that babies can pick up and even recognise specific parts that they have listened to before. Bales states that:
'Researchers think the complexity of classical music is what primes the brain to solve spatial problems more quickly.'
I agree with Bales because there are so many other genres of music with different arrangements which could help build other music-related pathways in the babies brain. She believes it is important to expose your baby to many other types of music.
There are two books that I have ordered to support my line of inquiry. The first is, 'The Art of Dance in Education' by Jacqueline M Smith- Autard, which is mentioned in Reader 7, and the second is, 'Learning through Movement in the Early Years' by Sharon Tredgett. I am intrigued to read these and will blog about them once they have been delivered!
It is very easy to see how, as a performer, I could produce a very biased project in favour of music and movement. It is vital to look at all the research and produce a balanced report.
