Music Is Fundamental

 Many scientific studies have found that if you want your kid to do well in school give herm music lessons.  In fact some studies have shown that students having difficulty in school can improve their school performance by simply getting a musical instrument. They will learn to play it and the learning skills will carry over into their schoolwork.

  Almost anyone can make a joyful noise on a musical instrument, but going beyond that joyful noise to making music, even simple music, requires developing motor and mental skills that are progressively more complex as the demands of the music increase. It is an open ended learning process, there is always more to learn as skills increase.

  I recently went to a concert entitled "More Pianos than Bathtubs" which celebrated a time in our history when one of the major entertainment venues was the parlor piano where guests were invited to sing, or in some cases bring their instruments for an impromptu chamber concert.  An amusing discussion of this phenominon can be found at The Piano In The Parlor