Noteworthy
Dow Street Community Music School Blog “Noteworthy”
Introduction to Blog
In this space, we will provide information about music education, discussion of the benefits of learning to play an instrument, helpful practice tips, advice from experts, and we will generally focus on the joy that music brings to our lives. In short, we hope this blog will inspire you to listen to music, talk about music, play music!! The plan for the blog is to provide new content every two or three weeks, to offer perspectives from a variety of people, and to provide an opportunity for your comments to add to the discussion.
What is the role of music in our lives?
March 13, 2025
What would happen if music just… stopped?
No songs on the radio, no music in movies, television ads, video games, ringtones, YouTube videos, ice-cream trucks, dentist offices, stores. No whistling in the shower, or humming your favorite tune on the way to work, or listening with earbuds while exercising. No carols at Christmas time, no band at sports events, no music at weddings, or parties, or parades. Memorizing the alphabet without a tune. No music to make your feet itch to dance. No song from your past that reminds you of a best friend or favorite aunt. No favorite love songs when your heart is broken. No concerts, no musicals, no opera.
What kind of world would that be? If a music-less world sounds unthinkable, then let’s consider some other questions:
What are the tangible and intangible benefits of music and to whom?
How can we support all the roles in music: artist performer, music teacher, amateur performer, listener, and music student, to name a few?
What does it take to keep music alive?
A simple internet search will provide reasons to learn to play an instrument. Music is a stress reliever and mood elevator; it improves levels of neuro-chemicals such as dopamine, cortisol, and serotonin.
Children
Singing or learning to play an instrument is important for children’s development.
Research shows that through music lessons children and teens learn resilience, perseverance, time management, responsibility, concentration, physical coordination, listening skills, and social skills. Learning music helps memory, improves organizational skills, helps math skills, improves reading comprehension, and aids in problem-solving. Studying music helps children in their schoolwork and in life in general.
Adults
Research shows that adults also benefit from studying music, particularly senior adults. According to a 2020 report from AARP’s Global Council on Brain Health, “any type of musical engagement,” be it singing, dancing, playing an instrument, composing music, or listening to music, “appears to hold benefits” for adults. Playing music helps memory skills for people who have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. According to music therapist Tammy Reiver, “When one area of our brain is affected by illness or injury, music cognition remains and the other areas of our brain continue to respond.” (Seniority Healthcare, 2022)
At Dow Street Community Music School, we see the effects of music education every day:
A small child smiles as he leaves his lesson excited to practice.
A student tells her parents all about what she is learning.
An adult beginner stops to chat about the fun she is having.
Grandparents swell with pride at the student recitals.
A timid eighth grader worried about high school band becomes a confident ninth grader eager for new challenges.
And so many other stories…
So, how do we keep music alive?
Go to concerts. There are amazing professional musicians performing all over middle
Tennessee, even at MTSU School of Music! Go to a symphony concert. Bring kids to children’s concerts. Go to musicals or ensemble concerts at the local schools and support young musicians! We have guest performers at Dow Street from time to time – watch our social media for events.
Lobby for more music opportunities in the schools – schools listen to parents. Ask about orchestra in your school if you do not have one.
Invest in your child’s musical education. Yes, lessons and instruments cost money and
time, but so does soccer, dance class, karate…. All of these are valuable, but music education is a necessary part of every child’s development.
Learn an instrument or sing! Music is not just for children – we all need it. Join a choir,
get a couple of friends together and do a group ukulele lesson, get back to those piano lessons after all those years…. Your children are watching – show them that you can be brave and learn something new too!
Respect your local musicians and music teachers: they work hard to make our lives better!
Music brings people together. It enhances our lives, at every stage, and improves our health and wellbeing. Children and adults blossom when music is part of our lives. We learn to express emotions in a safe and nurturing environment, confidence and resilience improve, and we learn to work with others. We form connections across space and time to musical traditions near and far. We develop the skills and perseverance needed to thrive in every future endeavor, all while participating in a fun, creative outlet! Music changes lives.
Dow Street Community Music School is a 501c3 nonprofit; we offer individual and group music lessons to children, teens, and adults.
Author: Dr. Andrea Dawson, MTSU Violin Professor and founder of Dow Street Community Music School
Adult Beginner Music Students
January 14, 2025
Welcome to the first blog post from Dow Street Community Music School – Noteworthy!!
Adults taking music lessons is the focus for this blog. Many adult students take lessons at Dow Street Music. They take lessons for a variety of reasons. Some have always wanted to learn to play an instrument, but did not have the opportunity as a child. A few of the adult students played an instrument earlier in their lives and wanted to get back to playing because it is a source of joy for them. Other adults like the idea of a challenge while some adults want to improve overall health, including improving concentration, dexterity, and mood.
This is my story. My name is Jill Austin. I am the board president and a volunteer at Dow Street Community Music School. Recently, I retired from a faculty role at the MTSU Jones College of Business. When I was about ten years old, I received a guitar for Christmas; I was excited. I wanted to learn to play, but I never did. After three years of learning to play piano when I was in elementary school, I moved on to other activities like playing tennis and working at my family’s movie theater. Now as a retired person, I have time to learn to play guitar!! These are some things I have noticed through the learning process:
- It takes me some time to learn basics like the notes for the strings, cords, and strumming patterns. I’m not very musical and my brain is wired for organizing, management, and leadership. Repetition is important for the learning process.
- My fingers don’t always want to go correctly on the strings as I think they should. Building finger strength and dexterity is important.
- Counting and rhythm is not a strength of mine! I have a metronome and I’m getting better at this.
- Practice makes a difference – of course, it does!! (even 15 minutes a day when I don’t have more time).
- I played a simple version of “When You Wish Upon a Star” at a recent recital. That was scary, but I made it (with a few missed notes and a supportive teacher).
- Best of all, I’m having fun. It is fun to pick out a song that I know and it actually sounds like the song should sound (well almost).
- The longer I work at learning to play, the more confidence I have that I can improve. . . . And this keeps me practicing!!
Are you an adult who has always wanted to learn to play an instrument? My advice – try it! It will be frustrating and humbling at times, but it will also give you joy and a sense of accomplishment.
Let’s have a discussion on the DowStreetMusic Facebook page. Are you an adult new to music? Are you a teen or young adult who can provide some advice to beginner adults? Let’s talk about it!
Dow Street Community Music School is a 501c3 nonprofit; we offer individual and group music lessons to children, teens, and adults.