Does music actually help ability?/ What do ya play?

[Matrias Fierno]

So, I'm about to purchase my second guitar in six months, an Epiphone Dot Studio. I've got a Breedlove acoustic guitar as well that I learned on.

I've played nearly every percussion instrument (except some world percussion instruments), saxophone, and I sing. I've also got terrible grades.

So, I was wondering what you guys's opinions were on whether being involved with music actually helps develop character, grades, or social skills.

Also, I was wondering what instruments everyone plays here. I'm guessing Bass plays bass, but beyond that I have no clue. smile  

[Bassios]

... Did I just get namedropped? ******** yeah! biggrin

xd Actually, I play electric guitar. I've got a blue Squer Stratocaster and a back Ibanez S470.

I'm going to be borrowing a bass guitar off my first ex girlfriend soon so I can be a temp bass player in my girlfriend's band until they find one that can be properly dedicated.


In my opinion the only difference that comes from playing an instrument is that you listen to music differently. For me, listening to heavy metal now is different to before I started playing guitar. I listen to the riffs more closely and try and picture how they might be played. It's an interesting development, it also makes me appreciate the songs more, knowing how difficult it can be to nail a riff.

If you get good enough with an instrument, I suppose it might help your social skills if you join or form a band of some form. smile  

[blue_green]

Personally, I sing and that's it. I get fairly good grades, but my social skills are quite lacking. I suppose music can help you be better in school, but only if music is not your only focus, because if you only focus on music then music is the only thing you're doing good at. And being in a band can deffinately improve your social life if the band is popular enough.

It is said that listening to Mozart makes you smarter, but it's not gonna give you better work ethic. So, whatever music does for your brain, you've gotta have the qualities to use those improvements.  

[Matrias Fierno]

...

So I namedropped ya, but somewhat inaccurately. razz Damn.

Yeah, I've noticed I can recognize pitch a lot easier, and to me guitar playing is just an extension of the music because I can finally play songs that mean a lot to me.

As far as the social skills thing, I was thinking more along the lines of how I was in marching band and choir. Some of the kids seemed like real achievers, but a lot of them did not. I wanted to see whether others had other opinions, though.

And actually, as far as joining a band go, that's how I got my first friends in this town, was by starting a band. biggrin  

[Taeryyn]

I play piano, and played trumpet in concert band back in high school.

I never really noticed a correlation between my grades and music. I learned to read music while I was sick with chicken pox one year, and got to fine-tune it more when I joined concert band.

I was also never really friends with anyone who was in band with me. I got along well enough with the others in brass, but the conductor mostly ignored us (she was the reason the band fell to pieces, actually...)

My younger brother is extremely passionate about music. His primary instrument is bass, and he's studying to be an audio engineer. His grades were pretty much the exact same as my other brother, who is about as musically inclined as a doorknob.  

[Kalstolyn]

Kals is questing again!

According to a study done by Chorus America, "Children who sing in choruses have greater academic success and more advanced social skills than children who don't sing." source

It actually makes sense because participating in the creation of music stimulates the areas of the brain used for math, creativity, AND language development. There is also a motor control component to it. Making music could also help with expressing emotions in a positive manner rather than acting out. And being part of a musical ensemble teaches teamwork, cooperative skills, and possibly leadership skills as well as boosting self-esteem and fostering a sense of community.

Check sig for details!

 

[xDarkPisces]

For me, marching band definitely helped in school. It's not so much that the music program itself helped my grades. All of my success was due to enhanced productivity. Practicing trumpet took up so much of my time that I was forced to find better ways to budget the time I spent doing anything else.

But yeah. Trumpet. I sing a bit too, but not very well.  

[invisible-weirdo]

*wrote a paper a few years back on how music (or at least music programs) benefit children*

Anyway, I play piano (it's been kinda sorta erratically over the last couple years, but I do have a keyboard in my bedroom for whenever I feel like playing) and up until college I was a straight-A student, but that's probably due to how my parents pressured me to get perfect grades/punished anything less sweatdrop

I started playing back when I was like 6 years old, so I can't tell if it has impacted how I listen to music. But I don't think it has since I've always really really sucked at ear training. So....yeah. And I can understand how music can help with social skills, especially if you join a band, orchestra, choir, or something along those lines.  

[Arcanas]

I play the clarinet, sax, and dabbled in a little percussion.

When I was in high school, I had to actually try and fail classes...But then again, I also did sports as well. So in order to compete, I had to maintain a 2.0 grade average...easier done then said.

But then again, it was all about what you spent your time doing. That, and your motivation to work. One of Saludatorian's in my graduation class was actually dyslexic. But, the guy had an iron will to succeed.

I was pretty lazy, but still managed to get my work done in class, cause if I didn't, well... I wouldn't have time for it otherwise. We had sports after school, and then band practice every day except friday from 7pm to 9pm.

And then over the summer, we had band practice ever day. Along with some pre-season X-country training.  

[AlcoholicPancake]

Matrias Fierno

...

So I namedropped ya, but somewhat inaccurately. razz Damn.

I believe the " Bass " his name is referencing is: