Come on, Feel the Noise Monday, December 13, 2010 By Junior Faith Roberts Sabrina Parra multi-tasks with the brain power she gains from playing drums. - Photo by Faith Roberts Advertising With the recent economy problems, many schools have been cutting programs, and most have put the ax to their music and fine arts programs. Such schools have used the reasoning that students don’t really benefit as much from those classes as they would from math or science classes. However, research has been found that could potentially save the music, at least on the band side of things.    According to the Scientific American website, those who have been trained to play a musical instrument can enhance the general ability to learn. And, according to an article published on the website, it improves more than just general learning.    “Studies have shown assiduous instrument training from an early age can help the brain to process sounds better, making it easier to stay focused when absorbing other subjects, from literature to calculus. The musically adept are better able to concentrate on a biology lesson despite the racket in the classroom or, a few years later, to finish a call with a client when the colleague in the next cubicle starts screaming at an underline,” said the editors of the Scientific American website, John Pavlus, Tom Vanderbilt, Elizabeth Svoboda, Melinda Wenner, and Matthew Wald.  And according to Freshman Sabrina Parra, being a percussionist has helped her quite a bit. “In band, I play and count in my head or tap my foot at the same time. And it makes it easier to multi-task in class, like reading a book and still listen to the teacher,” she said.  Many Cameron High School teachers have taken extra measures for those students who don’t necessarily play instruments, but can hear them. “I let my yearbook kids listen to music in class, because it does really seem to help keep them creative,” said Yearbook Advisor Mr. Jim Calvert. Mr. Calvert doesn’t let his language classes listen to music, but will do anything to keep his yearbook staff inspired.    Science Teacher Mr. David Bishop apparently thinks along the same lines. He plays music from his classic rock collection in his science classes, and Mozart during tests. “I believe that music helps you concentrate and block out things that would otherwise be distracting to the thought process. I know that some students say that music distracts them, but that’s only a small percentage of the class. And the music I play is music I enjoy,” said Mr. Bishop.       Long story short, the ability to play an instrument has been proven to boost attention levels, ability to multi-task, and even the ability to learn foreign languages. But there is still a decline in music classes in schools across the nation. Maybe sooner or later, once word gets out, the music will be saved.

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