Music
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”
Plato (428 BC - 348 BC)
Education in Ancient Greece was broken into three parts: The Gymnasium, Music, and Rhetoric.
The purpose was to prepare every citizen for both Peace and War. Every year Physical Education and the Arts become
the first victim to budget constraints as the Modern Era cannot place an objective quantifiable value on either subject,
and many children are being deprived of the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. While Physical Education is an
individual pursuit at Penrith Farms, we offer a platform to encourage the development of the Music inside of everyone.
The benefit of Music has been well documented in recent years, and was always held in high regard in the
past. While Music may be disregarded in the current
education system, it will always remain a fundamental part of the Penrith experience. The program is designed to expand and contract as
the needs and desires of the Students at Penrith changes. The Penrith Farms Music Program is run and coordinated by
Roy Jackson, founder of
Learn To Burn School of Music based out of Spokane, WA. Roy
Jackson is an instructor with the
Music Department at Spokane Falls Community College and founded Learn To Burn in 1990 to pursue a
lifelong passion. Providing instruction will be Steve Haldi
and Ben Rose.
Steve Haldi provides instruction on Keyboard/Piano, Vocals, and Basic Drums. Ben Rose provides instruction on Guitar, Bass, and Basic Drums.
Ben Rose has been playing guitar professionally for 10 years and graduated from the Musicians Institute in California in 2005. After graduation he served on the faculty at the
Musicians Institute for 2 years before moving back to the Spokane Area.
Penrith Farms believes that Music can provide an outlet for students to express emotions. Learning Music also requires concentration, and discipline thus teaching students
to valuable skills. Several studies have shown that students score better on memory tests and mathematical exams when they have taken music lessons. The University
of Toronto found that students score higher on IQ tests when they have participated in Music Education in the past. Music teaches Team Building as individuals must learn
to work as a part of a group, and cooperative skills to work well with others must be learnt. Learning Music can be a source of pride and achievement for an individual,
and can increase confidence and self-esteem.
Penrith Farms' music program progresses from string instruments and keyboards into percussion, students will encounter the possibilities of improved
balance, hand-eye coordination, rhythm, sequential and linear thinking. One reason for the transformation could be linked to neurons creating new
pathways if asked repeatedly to complete a task where the original pathway for that particular task completion is injured. For instance, the act of
hand drumming equally involves both sides of the brain and body. Despite past difficulty with hand-eye coordination, a student practicing drums could
greatly improve theirs. Other possible ability amplification could occur in the areas of improved balance, coordination, rhythm or sequential thinking.
The act of hand drumming also centers and balances excessive energy, testosterone and anger.
Jam sessions create a space for musicians to explore themselves: what they want to communicate through their instrument and how to communicate it.
Group improvisation is a musical conversation. As musical conversation skills advance so can verbal social skills as they operate in the same manner.
Successful collaboration provides a sense of personal value and responsibility within a team. In addition, it is a realm where students are not only
allowed to step out-of-the-box, unconventional expression is actually encouraged.
Vocalizing encourages voice identity and self-trust in public or social speaking. Sustaining tones holds meditative value. Holding a tone can produce a hypnotic
state for a vocalist, providing non-medicated relaxation and improved sleep. As a vocalist refines their own voice, hearing awareness develops. Hearing awareness aids
anyone through increased comprehension and improved ability to interpret implied meanings within conversations ultimately resulting in enhanced communication.
