Deana Lancaster.

News Reporter
denna@nsnews.com

IN Don Quixote
Cervantes wrote:
“Where there’s music
there can be no evil.”

78 BUY 0

The phrase continues to
ring true. [n fact, researchers
are discovering more and
more that where there's
music, life and learning
become casicr.

A study done on music
and reading in 1975 with
children in Grade 1 support-

A ‘musical instrument... *
That is the question that you

wilt i face before September

. {
‘applied to. a

ed the view that music educa-
tion facilitates the ability to
read, Children in a test group
received extensive Kodaly
training while those in the
central group received no
music instruction at all. The
music group achieved signifi-
cantly higher reading scores
at the end of the year.

In 1992, — researchers
found that children aged four
and five, who’d had music
instruction, scored higher in
the Torrence Test of Creative
Thinking. And in 1996,
another study, found chat
music training improves rea-
soning in preschool-aged
children.

Self-expression, motor and
rhythmic development, lan-
guage development, even
social and group skills — all
are touted as rewards of an
education in music.

But it’s not enly the very
young who can benefit.

“A lot of kids who go into
music aren’t — athletically
inclined,” says Doug
Macaulay, director of the
West Vancouver Youth Band.
“Playing in a band gives them
an opportunity to work in a
team atmosphere outside of
sports.”

And, he said, working
hard before a performance
gives young people an appre-
ciation of living in the
moment.

“Music is the most intan-_

gible of the arts. Once the
concert is over, it’s gone and
there’s such a lor of hard
work for that short amount of

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PIANO teacher Gwen Greenway believes there are plenty of benefits to be gotten
from a musical education. The Horth Vancouver resident, who teaches from her
home, says playing the piano can become a Sifelong habit, not unlike reading k is

for many people.

glory. They really learn to
appreciate that.”

But perhaps the lasting
benefit which Macaulay is
most passionate about is
respect and fove for the arts.

“There is the odd kid who
goes on in music, and I'm
thrilled when they do, but
we're not just fostering the
education of future musicians.
We're fostering the education
of future patrons and bene-
factors of the arts.

“When they go to the

symphony or the orchestra

they have an understanding of
the complexity of the music,
and of what i it took to bring it
to the stage.”

And it’s that kind of fove

and understanding, says
Macaulay, ‘tat the future of
the arts depends on.

North Vancouver. pianc
teacher Gwen Greenway also
notes the betefits of. music
training.

“T think it’s taught my kids
how to study. You chew off
Nite bits at a time and then
review it. It teaches the disci-
pline involved in Jearning.”

And, says Greenway, play-’

ing the. piaso can become a
lifelong hobby, ideal for when
you're spending time on your
own — just as reading is for
many people.

“In fact, you are reading
when you ply music, You're
reading works by the. mas-

rers,” she says. . LE
Unlike other i instrument

. she adds, playing the piano

a complete musical experi-
ence, :

“Piano. . in particular,
stands on its own -—'not like.
the trumpet or the sax,

_they’re more fun if you’re in a;
: band. With piano, the harmo-

ny, the melody. ... it’s. all:
there.”

But it takes dedication to
reap all the benefits of music’
training, warns’ Greenway, ss
and practice.

“Ha student doesn’t prac-
tise then they stop enjoying it.
because they think it’s: hard,
Ic’s not chard, if they pur the,