If you spent hours learning a musical instrument as a child only to lose interest when you reached your teens, it may not have been a complete waste of time after all, according to a leading expert.
Learning to play an instrument has major advantages for a growing brain and should be a key part of school education, says neuroscientist Professor Nina Kraus. She points out there is strong evidence to show that music lessons help children improve their language skills. The benefits could help normal children as well as those with developmental problems such as dyslexia and autism, she argues. Prof Kraus has led the first research to demonstrate that playing a musical instrument significantly enhances the brain's sensitivity to speech sounds. The 16 highly trained musicians tested were better than 15 non-musicians at picking out key elements of speech from background noise.
‘Playing an instrument may help youngsters process speech in noisy classrooms better and more accurately interpret the nuances of language that are conveyed by subtle changes in the human voice,' Prof Klaus told the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Diego, California.
‘Playing music engages the ability to extract relevant patterns, such as the sound of one's own instrument, harmonies and rhythms, from the "soundscape",' said Prof Kraus. ‘Not surprisingly, musicians' nervous systems are more effective at utilising the patterns in music and speech alike.’
Other studies in children and adults over the years have found that merely listening to music doesn't have as much impact on the brain as making music, but there are still benefits. Several studies have shown that listening to music can help alleviate chronic pain and reduce the need for pain medication. Other research has documented that music can help lower blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety in heart-disease patients.
Learning to play an instrument has major advantages for a growing brain and should be a key part of school education, says neuroscientist Professor Nina Kraus. She points out there is strong evidence to show that music lessons help children improve their language skills. The benefits could help normal children as well as those with developmental problems such as dyslexia and autism, she argues. Prof Kraus has led the first research to demonstrate that playing a musical instrument significantly enhances the brain's sensitivity to speech sounds. The 16 highly trained musicians tested were better than 15 non-musicians at picking out key elements of speech from background noise.
‘Playing an instrument may help youngsters process speech in noisy classrooms better and more accurately interpret the nuances of language that are conveyed by subtle changes in the human voice,' Prof Klaus told the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Diego, California.
‘Playing music engages the ability to extract relevant patterns, such as the sound of one's own instrument, harmonies and rhythms, from the "soundscape",' said Prof Kraus. ‘Not surprisingly, musicians' nervous systems are more effective at utilising the patterns in music and speech alike.’
Other studies in children and adults over the years have found that merely listening to music doesn't have as much impact on the brain as making music, but there are still benefits. Several studies have shown that listening to music can help alleviate chronic pain and reduce the need for pain medication. Other research has documented that music can help lower blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety in heart-disease patients.
Question 1
Indicate whether the following sentences are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) Kraus believes that music should play a major role in the school curriculum.
b) The results of this research were not clear.
c) Learning to play an instrument could benefit students with learning difficulties.
d) Professor Klaus is the Director of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Question 2
Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) What skills do musicians develop which appear to help them with learning languages?
b) How have other studies shown that listening to music can be beneficial for health?
Answer the following questions in your own words.
a) What skills do musicians develop which appear to help them with learning languages?
b) How have other studies shown that listening to music can be beneficial for health?
Question 3
Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.
a) important or successful (Paragraph 1)
b) proof (Paragraph 2)
c) transmit (Paragraph 3)
Question 4
Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a) Learning to play an instrument has major advantages for a growing brain and should be a key part of school education, says neuroscientist Professor Nina Kraus.
Professor Klaus claimed that learning …………………….…….. school education.
b) Playing an instrument may help youngsters process speech in noisy classrooms better and more accurately interpret the nuances of language that are conveyed by subtle changes in the human voice.
If youngsters play an instrument, this may help ………..
c) Other studies in children and adults have found that merely listening to music doesn't have as much impact on the brain as making music, but there are still benefits.
Although other studies …………………………………………..
Question 5
Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
How important do you think music is?
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario