Recently, a heart-warming story about the benefits of music came from an unlikely source: The World Bank. The international financial organization provides loans to developing countries to reduce poverty in various regions of the world. But, it seems, it is no stranger to music either!

An article in the organization’s publication describes how music classes are keeping young people in violence-ridden neighborhoods of San Salvador (El Salvador’s capital city) off the streets.

The World Bank-supported initiative, which encourages at risk-youth to develop skills in music and the arts, has had a positive impact. “It enabled 75 young Salvadorians to take up music classes and learn to play a musical instrument,” the article reports. “These after-school workshops fill the youth’s free time, keeping them out of trouble.

Now plans are underway to create a youth symphony orchestra in San Salvador’s most precarious areas.

Instrument for change

Similar projects exist or are being organized in Honduras and Guatemala, which, along with El Salvador, are Central America’s most violent regions.

In the United States too the importance of music training for disadvantaged children and teens has gained recognition among educators. So-called “music clinics” and other music and arts-related programs and projects are taking place in school districts across America. They all share the same goal as their Central American counterparts: to keep at-risk kids focused on a positive, nurturing, and fun activity as an alternative to street violence that is prevalent in their communities.

Keeping kids out of trouble

Many studies, including one by the National Arts Education Research Center, have demonstrated that violent behavior decreased in kids who participated in music and arts programs.

There are many reasons why music and arts education is effective in keeping potentially violent teens on the straight and narrow. For example, many youngsters turn to crime because of peer pressure, lack of purpose, hopelessness, or deep-seated but unexpressed anger. In all these cases, music education provides a benefit by giving the teens a meaningful purpose, self-confidence, a sense of accomplishment, civic pride, discipline, and a way of expressing – through music – their feelings.

As the 19th century poet Berthold Auerbach so eloquently put it, “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

We are sure all the kids who participate in the World Bank’s project, as well as those in our country, would agree.

Let’s be in tune!

We at Hey Joe Guitar are proud to do our part by offering, though our non-profit CWB Foundation for Children & Music, a variety of music programs to schoolchildren in New York City’s economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. We hope to make a positive and meaningful impact on their lives and to help them develop a lifelong passion for music.

However, music education is, needless to say, beneficial to people – kids and adults alike – of all sociocultural backgrounds and conditions. Our school can give you in-home or in-office music lessons in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Riverdale – whatever instrument strikes your fancy.

With Hey Joe Guitar, you can be part of a (good) gang!

Photo Credit: Nelomi Jangos

The post At Manhattan Music Lessons, We Believe in the Power of Education! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

You already knew that music is very beneficial for your health, as well as for emotional and cognitive development – that’s not exactly breaking news.

Just as a reminder, a multitude of studies have demonstrated that music training in children improves social skills and academic performance. In adults, music has been shown to lift the mood and relieve anxiety, and, consequently, help prevent numerous medical conditions that are stress-related.

And in the elderly, exposure to music has been known to boost memory and help prevent the onset of age-related, cognition-depleting diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Yes, music is a wonderful boost for any age, and the best thing is, it’s all natural – no artificial preservatives, additives, or pesticides.

But, as compelling as these benefits are, music offers even more health perks, such as physical fitness. Wait, you’ll see!

Put your muscles to work

If you ever played an instrument or took voice lessons, you know how much physical strength and endurance these actions require. Whether you play the lightest instruments like a flute or recorder, or the big and heavy ones like the upright bass; whether you blow into it, strum it, or let your fingers do the walking, you can’t get even the smallest sound out of any of these instruments without putting your muscles to work.

For example, in the very least, wind instruments big and small require the use of facial muscles, as well as various muscle groups located in your chest and abdomen.

For the guitar, your forearm, wrist, shoulder, and neck muscles are put to work, and for the piano, the small muscles of your hands are getting a workout.

And what about the drums? We are glad you asked, because this percussion instrument gives a terrific lower and upper body workout by exercising your legs and arms, making you move and, as a result of all this action, burn fat and calories.

In fact, nearly every instrument will burn a certain number of calories – 204 for an hour of drum practice, 170 for the trombone, and 136 for the rock guitar.

Another very important health and fitness factor of music training is that, no matter which instrument you play, you must maintain a good posture. That’s because correct posture strengthens the spinal column and promotes good body alignment, preventing the deterioration of muscles and ligaments that keep you balanced, flexible, and pain-free.

Flex your muscle!

Now, you might be wondering how does all this music-related muscle activity make you healthier and fitter.

This is what you should know: With age, our muscle mass declines and the body becomes weaker and less resistant to all kinds of ailments like osteoporosis, arthritis, joint diseases, and other medical conditions. But building up muscle mass throughout your life will help your body stay strong, fit, and healthy.

And by the way, this is another good reason to work with a qualified music teacher: it’s easy to grab an instrument and start strumming, but unless you maintain the correct posture and muscle control, you might end up with aches, soreness, and stiffness. A good teacher, however, will show you the proper way to sit or stand, hold your instrument, and use your muscle groups.

Stay healthy – with Manhattan music lessons

We at Hey Joe Guitar believe in the beneficial powers of music and will be happy to send one of our excellent teachers to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office.

All our instructors are carefully screened, so you can be sure they will not only teach your proper musical techniques, but also help you derive the health benefits of music!

Photo credit:  Sokolin Maimon

The post Manhattan Music Lessons are a Good “Fit” appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.