Strings Attached

Information for Englewood Teachers

Classroom and music teachers are our greatest allies in helping families and children connect with our program.  Many people had the opportunity to learn an instrument as a child.  Many of your students don’t realize they have the opportunity, too.

We’ve also discovered that learning an instrument is a foreign idea to many kids, so it’s critical that you normalize it for them.  If you learned an instrument, tell your students about the experience, what instrument you learned, what was hard and what was rewarding.  If you were never able to learn an instrument, tell them why you’re glad they have the opportunity.  Help create a narrative in their own mind of music lessons being something normal and desirable.  Since we don’t turn away any children who want to learn an instrument, you won’t be setting them up for disappointment.  You’ll be aiming them towards a proven method for helping to improve their lives.

Teachers from Englewood Public Schools have supported their students in a variety of ways:

• Encouraging students to learn an instrument.
• Allowing a student to perform their instrument for the class (we suggest letting us know so their teacher can help them prepare a suitable piece).
• Attending a student’s recital (these are typically held in December and May).
• Helping a student add instrument practice to their planner.
• Telling stories about their own experiences learning an instrument.

Benefits of Music Education

Developmental

• Activates and connects multiple parts of the brain.
• Increased neural growth.
• Improved coordination.

Social-Emotional

• Increased inhibition control.
• Growth mindset.
• Improved discipline and grit.
• Regulates emotional processing.

Academic

• Builds creative thinking skills.
• Stimulates language processing.
• Improves listening skills.
• Develops spatial-temporal processing (math).

151 Pages of Citations on the Benefits of Music Education

We all know that music education has enormous benefits for children and the community. In case you were looking for specific citations, this PDF from the NAMM Foundation provides plenty of evidence.

Ways to Share Information with Families

• The family website has more information about the program.
• We’ve designed this square image for including in school or classroom emails along with a description of the program.
• You can include the QR code for our family website in materials you distribute to families.