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Music Sets The Tone For SuccessJulie IacovettoAbstractMusic is often called food for the soul. This is very true because not only is it good for the emotions, but also for your drive and other skills that will help you be successful for the rest of your life. It provides you with determination, a strive for perfection, and experience with working together in a group while still being responsible for your part of the performance. Music is also amazing in its mental aspect because of its ability to engage your brain as well as helping you to memorize things. Some people use this quality of music to their advantage by using it as a study tool. However, businesses use it to engrain a jingle or phrase in your head to convince you to buy their product. Venezuela is helping the children of their country’s poorer population by teaching them music and letting them perform. This helps keep them off the streets and away from drugs and crime. It also helps them to believe that they can have a future by persevering past their upbringing. El Sistema has affected the county in the most positive way possible. They have helped the 300,000 children that have passed through their program realize their potential. “If this is possible in Venezuela, why not the rest of the world?” IntroThere is a code that can change the world, a simple combination of symbols that will make a difference one person at a time. This amazing fix to the world’s problems is hidden within the pages of music. Not only is it something that lifts spirits when listening, but it inspires confidence and increases intelligence in the players. Venezuelans have found a way not only to inspire these traits, but to also mend the countries substantial poverty. Through a program named El Sistema, children that live in the streets of the inner city are brought in, given an instrument, taught music and the determination and values that go along with it. With this institution, these students learn the most important thing, how to believe in themselves. As they age, children move up in this system and are introduced into other symphonies within the program, when they reach this stage they are given a stipend to help support their families. This amazing organization is helping to lessen the poverty in the area, as well as keeping the kids from a life of crime. They are changing the future of Venezuela, one child at a time through music. This is possible because music requires a self-confidence and a strive for perfection found in no other subject. Music teaches children that they need to be able to work as a group, but also be responsible for their share of the product. It teaches them to continually persevere and that they can make something of themselves despite their background. Programs like this show the world that music matters and that the affects it has, reach around the world. This is further proof that taking music out of the lives of children would not only be detrimental to their future, but also the society that will depend on these children when they become adults. Limitations The importance of music has been proven through the programs in El Sistema. It has raised families out of poverty and has given those children a purpose. This valued point proves that music can change lives and actually improve a child’s ability to learn and grow into a successful adult. Some of the limitations of studying these effects are the geographic distance to El Sistema, the cultural differences, the time to see the progression in students who are put through a music program versus students who are not, and the inability to duplicate such a project in the states with the same results. The geographic distance produces obvious issues because I am not able to contact the program as easily. There are more chapters of El Sistema around the world, which will allow more contact to a branch of the program. Another limitation is the cultural differences between America and the main country involved in the program. This causes the importance of music to be seen differently by not only the citizens, but the government, and social activists. If music is not a large priority, the government will not support actions being made to increase the effectiveness. Any programs like El Sistema that will increase a child’s involvement in music will not be given the same attention as other social causes. The main limitation is the restriction on time in which to do this project. The proof of the effect of music on a culture, or more simply, a child within this culture, needs time. If music is going to change a society, then it is going to be a slow change as the children that grow up in a musically enhanced world, grow and have families of their own. They will in turn influence their children with the skills and thought processes learned through music. This causes a domino effect throughout the entire community and then, one would hope the country as a whole. The last major limitation is that the success that El Sistema found in Venezuela would be impossible to duplicate in the states. This is in part, is a fortunate problem. The United States does not suffer from the same level of poverty that the Venezuelan people deal with. El Sistema is so effective in Venezuela because its overwhelming poverty produces a plethora of children that need the help that the program provides. We would be able to promote programs that would still offer a huge boost to the importance of music for children, but it would not have the same staggering effect on the community.MethodologyThe research for this project has required both qualitative and quantitative data to create an effective argument for musical importance. Qualitative data includes the experiences of people as well as the thoughts and feeling associated with the problem at hand. This is a major aspect of the project because one of the main points is how music changes the person’s perspective and their learning effectiveness. The music shapes a person’s life and the effect it has on their future is crucial to the validity of the project. I have watched videos and talked with people whose lives have been affected by the community that music offers. This coupled with my personal experience with music has given me an inside look at the effects of music on people’s lives. It gives a safe space that can shield students from bullying and keep them from harmful decisions. Quantitative data includes statistics and the facts behind a problem. This data is critical to supporting the personal statements provided by the qualitative data. The main source of my statistical evidence includes the poverty rates in Venezuela and the changes that have taken place since the beginning of El Sistema. I also brought in facts about the effect of music on the brain and its development. This was vital in proving why music should be a part of a child’s life and why it is needed in schools. I further proved this point by including evidence about the difference in success between children that are involved in music and those who are not. Some of the ways that I have researched this data, is through databases like Gale that are provided through the school. I have also been advised by influential music figures in my life to view certain videos about the importance of music.Literature Review The new American: The concept of music having a good and bad side might seem like a weird concept, but this article brings a very interesting view to that point. When we listen to music, we absorb the information in the words much more efficiently. Many students use this to their advantage by utilizing this as a study technique. This is highly effective in increasing memorization, which is needed in several subjects. However, fast food chains and other businesses use their jingles to promote the selling of their product. This further proves how influential music can be to society, because whether we like it or not, the jingle imprints a message on our minds and can alter our thoughts. This article brought an entire new perspective to my research and helped me to open my topic up to other sides of the subject. Medicine Net:This interview was a question and answer between Mr. Campbell and an online audience. Mr. Campbell, a classical musician, who is also a teacher and is a published journalist and author. His expertise stated that music is imperative to a child's development. Playing Mozart and other auditory stimulating music can help with not only brain development but also autism, dyslexia, and mental problems caused by head injuries. Mr. Campbell also talks about general characteristics of sound and how it affects a child's sleeping and their overall development. This interview strongly supports my topic because it is the words of a specialist and someone that has researched the effects of music development in depth.Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela:This source was very helpful as it was the basis of the global aspect of my project. The site has a brief explanation of the program as well as the different symphonies and the conductors that have helped in El Sistema. It was very helpful, as it gave me a starting point in how to approach the topic. There are lists of contacts, as well as a message board to ask questions. This site also has links to related topics and orchestras in Venezuela, which helped me broaden my research, although I still plan to keep my topic centered on the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra. United Nations Development Program:By learning more about the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, I was able to find this source. It gave me more information about the details of the program. While the official website of the orchestra gave me contact information and the overlying facts, this article by the United Nations Development Program gave a more personalized statement. It talked about the stories of the children involved in the symphonies, and how the program has helped the lives of these families. This source was very helpful because it gave me a more humanized view of the program instead of just facts. This source was a major part of my qualitative data because of its focus on human experiences. It also touches on how it helps the children stay away from drugs and violence, which in a country like Venezuela will be very beneficial.Music as a culture:This site was one of the first sources I found and while it might have been helpful at the time, as I changed my project focus it became less relevant. It breaks down the sections of music as a culture. It provides not only a description of each way the music and culture are intertwined, but it also provides a list of links in each section that are related to the subject. While this might have seemed helpful at the time, most of the links are to societies and colleges, which you have to have an account or be a member to sign in. However, despite the complications with the links, the source had valuable summaries of each type of music and media, which was helpful for background information.Why Music Matters:This video was played for me in my band class and made a huge impact on me earlier on in my musical career. This source was extremely helpful as proof of my claim because it is an audio representation of the importance of music. Students were asked to play a short section of Shenandoah by Frank Ticheli, a well-known and respected piece, two separate times. The first time, they played it the way they had practiced it which was near perfection. The second time, the conductor asked each of the students to make two or three mistakes anywhere in the piece. The piece transformed from a peaceful valley with the sun rising slowly over a hill, to a World War II battleground. This demonstration shows how music demands perfection in its players. It also enforces participation, determination, and dedication in its students. These are all skills that are valuable in so many aspects of life, and this video demonstrates how music teaches those skills. This was the source that opened my eyes to the importance of music and helped me to decide to focus on this topic for my project. El Sistema: Changes lives through music:The video that goes along with this article is a great summary of the amazing program in Venezuela. This article was published by CBSNews, and includes several interviews with members of El Sistema as well as others that are associated with the institution. The interviews and facts that were included about the area and the intricacies of the program, gave me a lot of new information. One of these facts is that the government provides El Sistema with funding and instruments, but because of the plethora of children in the program, El Sistema makes some of their own instruments to supplement the government aid. It also went into more detail about the children’s lives, from their home life, to the poverty, to their dedication to the organization. Numbers for the budget as well as the members and number of symphonies and orchestras were also provided. This gave me statistics and hard data to include for the quantitative aspects of the project.The importance of music in the African CultureI found this source when I was still researching different topics. When I decided on my subject, this source was no longer relevant. However its information about African dance and music proved to be useful as a comparison against America. Comparing the two cultures’ importance on music exemplifies the United States’ low importance on the arts especially in schools. The source gave me not only background on the type of dances and instruments that the African people use, but also videos showing this type of music.BodyMusic has so many positive impacts on a child's development, as well as their learning processes. Music helps students to develop life skills that will help them in any career they desire, not solely music. The passion and determination needed to produce quality music, shows children that they need to be dedicated to their subject, whether it is in school or in their future. Performing music as a group teaches adolescents how to work together as an ensemble and also to be responsible for their part of the final product. Discipline is also taught, not by the teacher's rules, but by the expectations made by the peers. Music requires precision and in order to attain that perfect note, chord, or full performance of the piece, children must have the discipline to practice and a desire for perfection. Music also engages many different parts of the brain and makes learning much easier. Second languages, memory, and math are all much easier for musical students ("11 Facts"). This is because playing an instrument is one of the only activities that stimulate both sides of the brain. Students that receive a background in music have some impressive statistics. Musical students score 107 points higher on the SAT, have a significantly lower report of drinking and drugs, and are better overall at math ("Quick Facts and Stats"). The reason for this apparent higher success is because of not only the brain development that music aids, but also the work ethic and community that music brings to students. Most band students feel more as if they belong in a group that accepts them. When students feel that acceptance, they will be more motivated to be successful, and they also have more support in their academics. Listening to music can also be extremely beneficial, especially to young children. In an interview with classical musician and journalist Don Campbell, he states that "Mozart's music was the best organized for orderly time/space/spatial perception" (1). This is especially important for small children because their brain is still developing. Music can help to stimulate the brain and make more connections that will help later on. However, the absence of music can be just as beneficial. Campbell goes on to state that during the night, or during their nap times, make sure that there is an absence of stimulus, as this could cause anxiety, high blood pressure, and stress later on in life. Just as there are times when children are better off without music, there is also a downside to the effectiveness of a tune. Tunes and jingles are an amazing study tool, because it connects the information to several parts of the brain. This commits the material more to memory, which makes it easier to recall at a later time (Duke). While this tip might save someone's GPA, it is also filling the pockets of executives around the world. When you think of who has good hamburgers, what restaurants come to mind? Most likely, it is the ones that had some sort of jingle that got stuck in your head for a few days. When you hear the name "Red Robin", what is the first thing that you think of? Of course, it is going to be the voice singing "YUUMM." A short melodic line with a rhymed phrase is all it takes to get their message hooked in your brain. But how does this supposed impact of music actually relate in high school? Forty students were asked a series of questions about music in their lives. The results were quite astounding, as there were more musicians than were originally expected which is an amazing find. There were three elements that possibly influenced the data. There were slightly more females than males, as well as the fact that 75% of the students were seniors. The biggest element that could have skewed with the data is that several students were in a music class when asked. However, this did not make the results any less amazing. While 33 students said that they play one or more instruments, only 15 wrote that they were currently in a music class. This is significant because this means that 18 are choosing to make music apart of their lives without the influence of a music class in school. One of the questions asked, "What instruments do you play, and how long have you played them?" When totaled, there were a total of 54 instruments, and only eight of those instruments had been practiced for a year of less. This proves that an introduction to instruments and a musical lifestyle at a young age will carry on for years. Further proving this point is the fact that 25 of these 54 instruments had been played for four or more years. When asked if music had improved their lives, all but a few answered with a yes. "It acts as an escape from reality." Many children have a difficult home life, or they struggle with school, or other stressors, and an escape can sometimes be what saves them from self-harm or substance abuse. "Music is the quickest way to feeling any way you want." "Music is the best thing that ever happened to me." The students were also asked if music had affected their work ethic and how they view their school work. Many answered that it helped them to learn time management and how to focus. "It has helped me learn to focus on only the things that need work, rather than wasting time worrying about everything at once." "Organization, practice makes perfect, hard work pays off, and whatever you put in you get out. Music has made me a better student." That speaks for itself.?The survey revealed that 28 of the 40 listened to music from other countries. They were asked to list what countries this music came from and 21 different countries were listed. It's obvious that music is very important to not only our own culture, but also the connection to other cultures. Music is a global concept and the priority it takes in a country is dependent on the culture. African countries are a prime example. To them, music and dancing is not simply something to enjoy in spare time, it is their entire culture. It is how they communicate stories, history, ancestry, and it helps them to stay connected as a community. They have several instruments and vocal techniques that are distinct to the countries as well as the continent as a whole (Garnes). To see a country that is so immersed in their music and heritage, it makes American's priority of music in schools look unimportant. The US has made cuts in recent years to music budgets in schools across the nation. Despite the obvious need for the continuation of arts funding, the government is "prioritizing what are deemed more essential subjects such as math, reading, and science." (Fang). It seems that the exact opposite is happening in the Latin American country of Venezuela. The Program El Sistema is an organization to help homeless and extremely poor Venezuelan children learn to play instruments and perform with others. This program, amazingly, is funded by the government to the tune of $80 million a year. Because of this funding, El Sistema has grown, servicing 300,000 kids in 2008. In order for their goal to teach children music to be successful, they must have access to scores of instruments for them to use. To be able to pay for this, they also look to funding outside the government, as well as making their own instruments (Radliffe). ?The effect that El Sistema has had on Venezuela is very significant. Not only is it keeping children off the streets and out of trouble, it has also become a source of pride for the country. "In Venezuela, more than seven percent of the country's 30 million inhabitants live in extreme poverty." Most of the children in the program live within that 7% and would turn to crime and deeper poverty without music. Since its start in 1975, the organization has helped over 600,000 kids stay away from crime. As these kids stay with the program and move up the ranks, they can receive money to help support their families ("In Venezuela"). Even higher up the ranks in the symphonies is the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, which has become one of the most toured symphony in the world and is taking the pride of Venezuela with them, providing the country more support and media attention (Radliffe).Conclusion"Music produces an irreversible transformation in a child. This doesn't mean he'll end up as a professional musician. He may become a doctor, or study law, or teach literature. What music gives him remains indelibly part of who he is forever," says the creator of El Sistema Jose Antonio Abreu (Radliffe). The affect that music has on children is undeniable, from the psychological aspects, to the social benefits and feeling of community, and the prevention of crime and substance abuse. Despite all of these benefits, the American government is still cutting the budget for the arts in schools, favoring instead, other subjects they think to be more important. Venezuela should be an inspiration to the rest of the world. They have taken possibly one of the more financially underrated subjects that schools teach, and have made it into a social movement. They are helping to pull children out of extreme poverty. They are teaching them a skill and valuable life lessons. They are giving them money to help their families. They are giving them hope that future can and will be better if they persevere. They are giving them a life. They are El Sistema and the change that they are causing through music is groundbreaking. There is a reason that music should not be pulled out of schools, and this program is proving that; proving that music can change lives and change a nation. “If something like this is possible in Venezuela, why not the rest of the world?” (How music saved Venezuela’s children). AppendixWorks Cited"11 Facts About Music Education." Do Something. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014. < García, Osvaldo. "Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela." N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <, Don. "Does Music Really Affect the Development of Children?" Interview. MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <;."Can Gustavo Dudamel and El Sistema Navigate Venezuela's Upheaval?" WQXR - New York's Classical Music Radio Station. Ed. Brian Wise. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <, Selwyn. "Influential Beats: The Cultural Impact of Music." Influential Beats: The Cultural Impact of Music. The New American, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. <;."El Sistema in Venezuela (El Sistema USA)." N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <, Marina. "Public Schools Slash Arts Education And Turn To Private Funding." ThinkProgress RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <, Samiuah. "“The Importance of Music in the African Culture:More Than Just a Song”." All For Music. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2014.Hulting-Cohen, Jonathan. "Diffusion, Adoption, and Adaptation: El Sistema in the United States." Organizational Studies Undergraduate Thesis (March 9, 2012): 4-13. University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <;."In Venezuela, Music Provides Hope for Impoverished Youth." N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <;."An Introduction to World Music." Sound Junction. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. <;."Libraries, Archives, and Research Centers for American Music." N.p., 2 Oct. 2014. Web. <;."Music Education Advocacy: Facts and Statistics." Music Education Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <;."Music in "a Melting Pot"" N.p., 13 July 2013. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. <;."Music, Modern Popular." New Encyclopedia of Africa. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008. 648-69. Global Issues in Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2014. <;."OPINION: History of Traditional Caymanian Music." Cayman Net News, [Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands] 4 Dec. 2009. Global Issues In Context. Web. 2 Oct. 2014."Quick Facts and Stats." Music for All. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2014. <, Harry A., II. "El Sistema: Changing Lives Through Music." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2014. <;."Sociology Studies: Music as a Culture." N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. <, Jack. "Why Music Matters." YouTube. Web. 25 Oct. 2014. <;. ................
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