Music lessons can boost your child’s brainpowerBy Sari N. Harrar (Prevention Magazine, Jan 07) Remember the “Mozart Effect”? That was the nifty notion that parents could boost their baby’s IQ just by playing a little “Nachtmusik.” The claim sold millions of music CDs and led many hospitals (not to mention the state health departments in Georgia and Tennessee) to issue recordings to all new parents. Well, roll over, Mozart – and make way for the “Music Lesson Effect.” Experts now say that listening to classical music affects baby’s memory for mere minutes. But more and more studies suggest that learning to play an instrument or to sing has sizable long-term benefits for kids and teens. Some of the evidence: A study of 237 second graders by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, found that those who got music instruction scored 27% higher on a fractions test than those who lacked instruction. In a recent analysis by the Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, band and orchestra members were less likely than other kids to smoke, drink alcohol, or experiment with drugs. And when the Princeton, NJ-based College Entrance Examination Board looked at the SAT scores of college-bound high school seniors, they discovered that musicians scored 57 points higher on the test’s verbal section and 41 points higher in math. Think all this just shows that music makers are motivated types? Not so fast. Researchers found academic gains even in kids assigned to music lessons and groups. SAT scores aside, the best reason to encourage your child to learn an instrument is because it’s fun and rewarding, says Mark Churchill, dean of the preparatory school at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. “Every kid – and grown-up – is affected by music,” he says. “It’s part of what makes us human. Playing music makes children happy, and happy children learn and get along with others much better.” Yet a 2003 Gallup Poll found that less than half of all lesson takers stick with it through high school. Use these expert tips to get your child to try an instrument – and to keep them hooked. Perk up your ears – Start early to expose your child to a wide variety of music to build their listening skills and lay the groundwork for learning to play an instrument later. Borrow CDs – bebop to Bach – from the library, listen to the radio, and go to concerts. Spark their interest in learning an instrument by signing up for a music and movement class in which preschoolers sing, march, and play with rhythms. Pick an instrument with a quick musical payoff – For children younger than 10, who can be easily discouraged, the piano is a classic starting point, because it allows them to produce a sound right away. After about age 10, most kids are big enough and have the dexterity to play most band or orchestra instruments. To help your child choose one, take them to concerts so that they can see and hear the different types. Once the selection is made, choose the best-quality instrument you can afford to prevent unnecessary frustration, says Wilma Machover, director of artistic programs at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale, NY, and author of Sound Choices: Guiding Your Child’s Musical Experiences. Reasonable rentals are usually available at music stores – or even your child’s school. Sound out a teacher – Get recommendations from friends, neighbors, and the music teacher at school before signing up. Observe how your child gets along with the teacher, says Churchill. Is she paying attention and cooperating? Good sign. Is she having fun? Even better. Help with the homework – Decide on a regular time for daily practice – whether it’s 10 minutes for a 6-year-old pianist or 2 hours for a serious teen violinist. Set up a distraction-free music corner in your home, away from blaring TVs, computers, and ringing telephones. For kids younger than 10, stay in the room – practicing can be lonely. Encourage older kids to keep track of time and start on their own. “For the first few years, my mom would ask me if I wanted to practice,” says Devon Nelson, 18, an accomplished high school bassoonist from East Orleans, MA, who plays with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. “If I didn’t want to, that was okay. Sometimes I got to my lessons not fully prepared – and I learned the consequences of not practicing for myself.” Make music social – Ask your child’s teacher about opportunities in community bands, choruses, or orchestras. If your child is older than 9 or 10, consider a music camp, too. Bring the fun home – If your child is outgoing (or an outright ham), ask them to play a favorite piece when a friend or relative visits. “If you can,” says Machover, “pick up an instrument and join in.”