BAND!
The author and her husband (circa 2007) in The Carolina Band
Hi. I’m Jess. I am a band kid. I joined the band in 6th grade and never looked back. When it was time to apply for college, becoming a music major just made sense.
It’s been 25 years since I first stepped into a band room. I can confidently say that it has positively impacted every aspect of my life. I even met my husband in band!
I am so excited to be building a band program for homeschooled students in Northern Virginia. It’s an amazing opportunity to bring the joy of music education to a new population of families. If you are a homeschool parent reading this article - sign your child up for band! Why, you ask?
Lucky for you - I made a list!
1. Studying music impacts the brain.
Playing a musical instrument uniquely engages the brain. Multiple cognitive functions must coincide to play an instrument effectively. Research indicates that musician’s brains show increased plasticity, anatomical differences in the auditory and motor cortices, and increased gray matter throughout the brain (Miendlarzewska and Trost, 2014). Similarly, studying in music in childhood has proven to enhance non-musical transfer skills such as listening ability, fine motor skills, and temporal processing and orienting of attention in time (Miendlarzewska and Trost, 2014).
2. Playing music together increases social connections.
Music is innately human. Nearly every culture in the world utilizes music as a social activity. Music is part of cultural rituals, milestones, and celebrations. It is foundational to the human experience.
Research shows that engaging in music-making increases social bonding (Tarr, Launay, and Dunbar, 2014). Students who participate in band at the secondary level report a sense of belonging and increased social-emotional well-being (Siegal, 2023).
3. It’s FUN!
This one speaks for itself! Band is FUN. Learning an instrument leads to many possibilities - college ensembles, community groups, and a general understanding and appreciation for the arts.
Band is social. Band is musical. BAND IS FUN!
So, what are you waiting for?! Sign up today!
References
Miendlarzewska, E. A., & Trost, W. J. (2014). How musical training affects cognitive development: Rhythm, reward and other modulating variables. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2013.00279
Public Broadcasting Service. (2012, May 7). The benefits of Music Education. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/the-benefits-of-music-education
Siegal, C. R. (2023). Situational belonging in High School Band Ensembles and high schools. Psychology of Music. https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356231214499
Tarr, B., Launay, J., & Dunbar, R. I. (2014). Music and social bonding: “self-other” merging and neurohormonal mechanisms. Frontiers in Psychology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01096
