One Unexpected Reason Why the Arts are Crucial to Education

Image From Article Below

The benefits of music, art, and sports on children's lives are endless. But that doesn't stop these important subjects from being cut from our schools. In this ongoing debate, a new reason to keep them around has emerged.

Attendance.

After cutting many of these programs, the Milwaukee school system kept on a few teachers for special programs. They noticed that on the days these teachers would visit each school, the attendance would rise. Since public schools get funding based on actual attendance of students, this was definitely something to notice. They also noted that it kept some students from transferring to schools that still offered these programs. Overall morale increased when these programs were kept around. 

Another important area where they saw improvement was in parent participation. When music, arts, and sports were cut, those common after school trips parents would make to hear concerts, watch games, and other activities, left with them. With the parents not involved, the community suffers.

There are many reasons why these programs are important in school. Without the outlet that music, arts, and sports offer to kids, many will suffer. If attendance; simply encouraging a child to attend school, is an added benefit, then lets add it to the list of reasons we need to continue the push to keep these subjects in school.

Resource:

http://www.care2.com/causes/arts-education-is-making-a-comeback-but-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think.html

Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is about how African American conductors are making history on Broadway.


Heather (iCA President)

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New Instruments from Old Homes

Detroit has been going through some rough times. At a time when many of its buildings are being torn down, a nonprofit called Reclaim Detroit is deconstructing vacant structures, and reselling the contents. From the floors to the doors, they are recycling these beautiful original materials.

Recently, a man named Gary Zimnicki heard about Reclaim Detroit, and he became inspired. Zimnicki has been hand-making guitars and ukulele's since he was a teenager. With the original inspiration to be a rockstar, Zimnicki ended up an amazing craftsman of instruments, whose guitars and ukelele's are played by some of the best.

Zimnicki recently teamed with Reclaim Detroit, and the outcome has been amazing. Taking materials from a house originally built in 1910, just two blocks from the Motown studios, Zimnicki is using floorboards and ceiling joists for his instruments. After cleaning, sanding, and cutting the wood, Zimnicki has beautiful materials to reuse. As he describes, the wood is "old and well seasoned" and pays tribute to the craftsman that built the houses, over 100 years ago.

"I like to say that I'm building instruments not made in Detroit, but made of Detroit." - Gary Zimnicki

With his final touch being a small mother of pearl image of the home from which the materials come, Zimnicki's instruments have produced a sound so beautiful it's stunning the professionals.

Watch the amazing video to see Zimnicki's work with Reclaim Detroit, 

and hear one of the instruments being played by a professional.

Resource:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/detroits-vacant-homes-make-music/

Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is an interesting take on why music education is so important to have in schools.


Heather (iCA President)

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Changing the World of Music for the Blind Musician

Stevie Wonder. Ray Charles. Andrea Bocelli. These three men are all amazing and talented musicians. But they also have something else in common: they all went blind during childhood. Playing music is always an option for the blind, however the added challenges are obvious. Blind musicians are inspiration for all of us, but especially for young blind aspiring musicians.

Although there is a braille notation system for reading music, it is extremely complicated, especially for children to learn. For example, for a blind piano player, this braille system means reading and memorizing the part for the right hand, then the part for the left hand, then putting them together mentally, and all before playing an already complicated piece. 

From: http://blindmusicianuwmadison.wordpress.com/home/full-story/

A Sample of Kim's Braille Music

University of Wisconsin-Madison student, Yeaji Kim knows these challenges all too well. Mostly blind by childhood, music was what most connected Kim to those around her. But when she had difficulty capturing the inner melody of a song, she knew something needed to change. The braille system was not conveying the music in the same way that seeing the notes does. So Kim came up with an idea: a new method that gives sheet music a 3-D quality by elevating the notes. This allows the visually impaired student to learn in the same room, and with the same exact music as everyone else. It also allows teachers to teach the student from the sheet music, without the teacher needing to be able to read the braille system.

"Music literacy should be regarded as important as general literacy. Although none of us must be denied personal access to information and the freedom of choice, unfortunately, not all students have the opportunity to access the musical medium." -Yaeji Kim

Kim's idea is still in its early stages, with a provisional patent filed. But the future of her invention, and the opportunities it could create for visually impaired students and musicians around the world are endless.

From: http://blindmusicianuwmadison.wordpress.com/home/full-story/

Kim and her Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Resource:
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25961134/blind-musician-at-uw-madison-develops-3d-sheet
http://blindmusicianuwmadison.wordpress.com/home/full-story/



Check back next week to see our next blog post, which is about some cool instruments being made from a very unlikely source!


Heather (iCA President)

www.InstrumentCareApparel.com
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THIS Could Change the World for Billions of People; Get Involved #ShakeYourPower

Over 1.2 billion people live without access to electricity.

Kenya contributes to that number with 75% of its population living without electricity.

This inspired precussionist Sudha Kheterpal to create SPARK: a percussion shaker that converts the energy from playing the instrument into electricty. The shaker then has the ability for electronics (lights, mobile devices, etc.) to be plugged into it via USB.

"We can do it together."

-#ShakeYourPower Video

With the prototype finished, the end goal is to have the instrument available in the form of "Assembly Kits." The kit would serve two purposes: allowing children to learn while assembling the kits themselves; with the end result being the actual device that brings them power.

Image from SPARK Kickstarter Page

Nandi South community, Kenya

As their video shows, SPARK offers a lot more than electricity, to those of all ages. It provides access to those who will now be able to charge mobile devices more easily. It provides education to the little boy who gets home after dark, and is now able to read with his light. It provides safety to the little girl walking home alone everyday from school in the dark, who now has a light.

And of course, SPARK is all about music. "For me. the project is also about connecting people and bringing them together through music. Through the joy of playing music we can create something really useful, changing the world one beat and one shake a time." -Sudha Kheterpal

Head to the Kickstarter page now to watch the video that explains their overall plans, what they need the money for, and learn about those who have already been helped. There's only 8 days left, join the movement now, we did.

This is a game changer. Be a part of it. 

Pledge to #ShakeYourPower

Resources:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/726552172/shakeyourpower
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTENERGY2/0,,contentMDK:22855502~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:4114200,00.html


Check back next week to see our blog post, which is about a new 3-D sheet music for the visually impaired.


Heather (iCA President)

www.InstrumentCareApparel.com
Like us on FB
Follow us on Twitter @InstrumentCare