Rebekah Bridges

Rogers, John. "New Study: Playing an Instrument Sharpens Kids' Brains." Associated Press 9
Sept. 2014: Musical America. Web. 10 Sept. 2014.
Children who have been a part of a non-profit that gives music lessons to children in at-
risk areas are being shown to become more successful than their peers. Many scientists
and researchers believe that the musical education has played a key role in their academic
success. These people have found that music training changes the brain in a way to help it
process sounds, then increasing reading and speech skills. Training has also been shown
to help with math because of rhythms and even improve confidence. I think that I will use
this article as a resource for my paper because it supports my thesis pretty well. It shows
positive impacts that the performing arts, music training specifically, have on children in
helping them to grow and be successful. I find its facts credible and think I can accurately
use them to support my argument for performing arts in schools.
Abdul-Alim, J. (2012). The ArT of EducaTion. Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 29(22), 14-
15. 16 September 2014
A visual and performing arts professor from Perdue University named Dr. Robert F.
Sobol believes that since the implementation of No Child Left Behind, arts departments
have suffered serious setbacks. Because of the way it pressures raised test scores in
core subjects like reading and math, money was poured into programs like that and
taken away from arts. Arts programs were even having to teach other core subjects in
their classes or were eliminated completely. Now that a new plan called Common Core is
beginning implementation, there is a higher focus on skills such as critical thinking and
creativity and arts education could be seen to enhance these skills. Cutting programs in
the arts is detrimental if a school is attempting to improve standardized test skills. I am
Rebekah Bridges

definitely going to use this for my paper because I think it will be very beneficial for me
in helping support my argument for performing arts support in schools. I also liked the
way that it discussed laws that have effected and are effecting education today such as the
No Child Left Behind and Common Core programs. I also liked the connection it showed
between arts and understanding the world.
Turner, Cory. "This Is Your Brain. This Is Your Brain On Music." NPR. NPR, 10 Sept. 2014.
Web. 21 Sept. 2014.
Music has been found to help the brain in learning and interpreting speech and language. The
Harmony Project, an organization providing music in low-income communities in LA is
being used to help show this idea. The project gives the kids access to instruments and
lessons they couldnt get on their own, along with adults who can both challenge and
nurture them in a helpful environment. Music and speech both have pitch, timing, and
timbre and the brain uses the same parts to interpret both. Training in music helps
strengthen those parts of the brain and it translates to speech. It also helps the students
concentration and relaxation. I am going to be using this article as a resource for my
paper because I think it can assist me in proving my argument for performing arts in
schools. It has useful scientific facts that I can utilize as proof for the benefits that music
and arts have on a student. I also really enjoy the anecdotes of students who have been in
the program and how it has benefited them as a student in a low-income neighborhood
who could potentially fall behind other students who are better off.
"Benefits of Theatre Arts." META. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Children with artistic inclinations are often diagnosed with disorders and medicated instead of
being placed in an appropriate environment in which they can grow with their talent and
ability. Performing arts and theatre specifically are good outlets and can enhance a
Rebekah Bridges

number of a childs social skills and give benefits also found in sports. People in arts
outscore non-arts peers and are more likely to hold school offices. Arts also give
academic benefits. Participants in arts also have a good connection to their community. I
might use this article for my paper, but I am not sure if I want to or not. I really like how
it has a focus on dancing and theatre arts because so far Ive only been able to find a lot
of sources on just benefits from music and not many on other kinds of performing arts.
One drawback was how it was written in an attempt to persuade people to donate money
to an organization for theatre arts. I still think Im probably going to use it.
Winfree, Diane. "The Benefits of the Performing Arts." Euclid Observer RSS. N.p., 12 Sept.
2013. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Parents should be supportive if their child is interested in the arts because the arts
produce a number of benefits. Arts programs encourage children to think creatively. They
also help improve a childs confidence. Art is brought about by solving a problem, so
these programs are good at helping children work their problem-solving skills and also
helping them to focus. Working with other people on arts also helps instill an idea that
feedback is both necessary and helpful and it gives them a sense of accountability, all of
these valuable life skills. I am probably going to use this for my topic because I like a lot
of the ways that they explain things and break up different benefits that the performing
arts can have on the lives of children. It uses examples that are easy to understand. I also
like that it isnt as scientific or use many complicated things as some of the other
resources Ive found.
Sheri. "Reflections in Sequins and Satin." : Benefits of Performing Arts for Children. N.p., 26 Apr.
2011. Web. 28 Sept. 2014.
Rebekah Bridges

Performing arts is an important part of any childs education. Arts develop creativity and confidence in
children. They also promote self-discipline and self-motivation and can improve a childs
memory and language skills. Arts expose children to different arts and cultures that are important
to be well-rounded citizens. One other benefit that performing arts can have on a child is helping
them with anxieties. When one has to perform, they can generally get pretty good at controlling
their anxiety and even use it to their advantage at times. Social interaction and cooperation are
other skills that can be enhanced by an education in performing arts. I will probably not use this
article for my paper. It was a pretty poorly written personal blog with very few points. The
information it did have was very basic and surface level. I might use it for a line or two, but I
really probably wont even do that.