Week 4 Reflection

     This week I dedicated much of my time to research for my Genius Hour project.  Much of what I have learned is positive to learning a musical instrument; there are more benefits to learning an instrument than not.  I understand the benefits listed by the articles I've read because I can relate to them.  I have also learned that musical instruments are changing in popularity.  I thought piano would be the instrument of choice for children however the electric guitar is gaining popularity.  Some benefits that were listed were things I would never have considered.  There were mental benefits to learning instruments but also overall health benefits.  Instruments help players keep a rhythm with their breathing and thus can be used for other activities.  

     Throughout my research time I have learned that a lot of the benefits I was reading I could relate to.  Having been playing music for nearly 20 years taught me important skills that I can incorporate in various other activities that are not directly music related.  I can play the piano and trumpet at a competent level;  I know my scales and non-elementary techniques.  Playing the trumpet taught me proper breathing and to pace myself with my breaths which can be used in physical activities such as running or playing a particular sport.  The piano taught me proper hand positioning and keeping a rhythmic flow while playing and to anticipate the next set of notes to play.  I believe this is related to mathematics, in particular with proofs, in trying to see where you're going with a set of statements and definitions.  Setting yourself up properly to take on a problem is crucial to have the respective result.

     From here I am going to continue to learn about the benefits of learning a musical instrument.  I am going to explore new ways on how I am going to deliver the information to an audience that is meaningful and understanding.  We watched this video that something can have a deeper meaning than what's presented on the outside.  Each slide would show a box, and once a question was answered the box would be transformed into a different picture.  I will try to incorporate this notion into my presentation that will encourage people to play an instrument as opposed to just reading the benefits of learning one.  The benefits are real only if the actions are carried out.

Week 3 Reflective Blog Post

Today I have learned a lot about my topic and how I want it presented.  The TED talk I watched gave me ideas for how I want to present my information in an order that allows the audience to experience an enjoyable flow of information.  Bombarding data could make the presentation feel like a chore.  On the other hand a presentation with no data may not make it sound credible and thus the audience will not feel like they've learned much.  A balance of data and reflection is important for this positive flow to happen.

What I have learned about myself is that there is still much to learn!  Keeping an open mind when listening to others could lead to unexpected benefits.  Learning how to present information in an orderly fashion could have the audience retain information easily.  Had I not kept an open mind and allowed myself to digest information presented to me during the TED talk, I may not have been able to retain that knowledge and use it in future presentations.

From here, I will group information that I research into categories that can relate to each other.  That way each transition will be seamless and  not be a chore for the audience to continue listening.  During my research for my genius hour project, I will look for information that the audience could relate to.  I believe that doing so will keep the audience engaged because otherwise, they will be reading a presentation that they have no interest in.  Making a link to the audience with the ideas presented is important to promote learning and understanding.

Genius Hour Project Presentation

My Genius Hour Project Presentation is on a topic that I can relate to for the majority of my life.  What are the benefits of learning a music instrument?  Some people believe that music makes you smarter.  Is this true?  Can learning a music instrument benefit students academically?

My goals for this project is to provide evidence as to whether learning a musical instrument is beneficial to a student's academic success.

My experience so far is I've witnessed the benefits of learning an instrument.  It helped me count in different time signatures (which I think is transferable to math), keep a rhythm and organize musical tones that work in harmony with one another.  My next step is to further this experience and provide data to others that will either agree or disagree with the statement: "Music makes you smarter".