A WORLD WE DARE TO IMAGINE

Did you know that exposure to music, and learning how to play a musical instrument, help to develop increased neural pathways in young children? While the mechanism of how this works is complex, and scientists do not know exactly how this development occurs, what is known is that young children who are exposed to music have increased brain activity. This translates into increased cognition that helps to support the development of executive functions and learning. The name of the organization is CAFÉ: Community Arts for Everyone. The mission is to provide underprivileged children with access to a music program, which in turn offers increased cognition that translates into better learning. This can then help motivate these children to attend college, and, with the benefit of higher education, lift themselves out of poverty. I think that every citizen should be provided with an opportunity to help themselves through the provision of education. I combined my love of music with a belief in education to create a program.

Decreased school funding makes it difficult for foster children to find better education, therefore by providing these children with music allows them to have the ability to learn other subjects with proficiency. A music program can result in these children being able to learn better and to learn more, thus helping to promote a greater increased chance that these children will complete high school, and, ultimately, attend college. It is known that the more education an individual has, the greater his or her propensity becomes to earn more over the course of the lifetime. This is correlates also with giving these children a chance for them to help themselves lift themselves out of the vicious circle of poverty.

In light of all of this information, what I propose is to implement a non-profit organization which would provide for music programs. The program does not have to be formalized, and it does not have to be conducted on school time. It does not even require a certified instructor to head up such a program.

What will be provided is a fundamental exposure to music by having the participants actively listen to various selections of recorded music in different genres, then having the instructor engage the students in an explanation of what type of music it is, the different instruments playing, and how the music is played.

The second part of the program consists of having the instructor bring into the program different musical instruments for demonstration purposes, and having him/her explain what the instruments are called, how they sound, and their primary functions in the execution and playing of music. This allows the children to become familiar with these instruments and the individual sounds they each make.

The third part of the program is actually allowing the children to “play” different, simple, instruments. These do not have to be expensive and can consist of instruments like the harmonica, the ukulele, bongos, triangle, tambourine, cymbals, a modified keyboard, glockenspiel, and the maracas.

I think that exposure to music, any type of music, benefits these children, which fosters better cognition. In turn, this helps children to learn, which can lead to them getting a better chance to attend college.