New technology continually emerges and revolutionizes the way students learn. Every subject experienced some form of change, and now the same can be said for music education. With Learn Pharrell Williams’ Happy, music classes are never going to be the same.
Music education is an enriching and fundamental part of learning. It is one of the few areas that actively promotes creativity in many unique ways, but it also enriches other areas of life many do not consider. Research has proven that learning music helps cognitive functioning, specifically in language and literacy. When compared to their non-musically trained peers, students engaged in music education developed higher rhythmic, tonal, and practical skills. The content this group produces is also generally more creative than their peers.
Making music entails quite a bit of effort, often simultaneously. Whether using your voice as an instrument or fingers to play notes on a trumpet, you are activating your ears and eyes, as well as large and small muscles. While crafting music through GarageBand won’t require much muscle use, it will stimulate the most important organ of them all: the brain.
Many activities require primary use from either the left or right side of the brain; however, creating music engages both. As we discussed in our blog post, “Music: The Heart of Education,” mathematics are essential in the creation process, but so is creativity. So while the left side of the brain actively engages in the math portion of music creation, the right is responsible for the creativity behind it.
Now that students are capable of producing music in the palm of their hands, it is our hope that everyone reaps the benefits of music education. While at first it can be a little overwhelming, stick with it. If you are passionate enough and make it through our book, you can create music just like Pharrell. Who knows, maybe one of you reading this is the next music sensation.