Rebekah Bridges

Rogers, John. "New Study: Playing an Instrument Sharpens Kids' Brains." Associated Press 9
Sept. 2014: Musical America. Web. 10 Sept. 2014.
Children who have been a part of a non-profit that gives music lessons to children in at-
risk areas are being shown to become more successful than their peers. Many scientists and
researchers believe that the musical education has played a key role in their academic success.
These people have found that music training changes the brain in a way to help it process sounds,
then increasing reading and speech skills. Training has also been shown to help with math
because of rhythms and even improve confidence.
I think that this article was written pretty well. It began nicely with a more personal
approach discussing children in the LA area and then shifted into nice facts. The facts and ideas
that it presented were all valid points and were said by a number of credible researchers and
scientists. Because of this, I think it was pretty reliable. It was a realistic idea supported by a lot
of people opposed to an unrealistic claim by one man or woman. I liked the articles use of both
facts and vignettes about the children in the program, utilizing both logos and pathos in its
argument.
I think that I will use this article as a resource for my paper because it supports my thesis
pretty well. It shows positive impacts that the performing arts, music training specifically, have
on children in helping them to grow and be successful. I find its facts credible and think I can
accurately use them to support my argument for performing arts in schools.

Rebekah Bridges

Abdul-Alim, J. (2012). The ArT of EducaTion. Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 29(22), 14-
15. 16 September 2014
A visual and performing arts professor from Perdue University named Dr. Robert F.
Sobol believes that since the implementation of No Child Left Behind, arts departments have
suffered serious setbacks. Because of the way it pressures raised test scores in core subjects
like reading and math, money was poured into programs like that and taken away from arts. Arts
programs were even having to teach other core subjects in their classes or were eliminated
completely. Now that a new plan called Common Core is beginning implementation, there is a
higher focus on skills such as critical thinking and creativity and arts education could be seen to
enhance these skills. Cutting programs in the arts is detrimental if a school is attempting to
improve standardized test skills.
I thought that the article nicely proved its argument for the benefits of an education in the
arts. It seemed very well-written and had a variety of credible sources like a Professor at Perdue,
one at Boston College, as well as a current MIT student. It had really good points with different
cases of art education and correlations to test scores.
I am definitely going to use this for my paper because I think it will be very beneficial for
me in helping support my argument for performing arts support in schools. I also liked the way
that it discussed laws that have effected and are effecting education today such as the No Child
Left Behind and Common Core programs. I also liked the connection it showed between arts and
understanding the world.

Rebekah Bridges

Turner, Cory. "This Is Your Brain. This Is Your Brain On Music." NPR. NPR, 10 Sept. 2014.
Web. 21 Sept. 2014.
Music has been found to help the brain in learning and interpreting speech and language.
The Harmony Project, an organization providing music in low-income communities in LA is
being used to help show this idea. The project gives the kids access to instruments and lessons
they couldnt get on their own, along with adults who can both challenge and nurture them in a
helpful environment. Music and speech both have pitch, timing, and timbre and the brain uses
the same parts to interpret both. Training in music helps strengthen those parts of the brain and it
translates to speech. It also helps the students concentration and relaxation.
I think that the article is really well-written and also tells a lot of how the brain works and
how music helps it to work better. It included really nice pictures and facts about the brain. The
scientific side of the Harmony Project wasnt really one I had gotten into yet with my previous
research. I also really enjoyed the personal ties that it throws in with specific students that are in
the program.
I am going to be using this article as a resource for my paper because I think it can assist
me in proving my argument for performing arts in schools. It has useful scientific facts that I can
utilize as proof for the benefits that music and arts have on a student. I also really enjoy the
anecdotes of students who have been in the program and how it has benefited them as a student
in a low-income neighborhood who could potentially fall behind other students who are better
off.