Should you find yourself with some free moments this winter break, take a look at this article. Though now a couple of years old, it is still a great read. Co-written by Ellen Winner (who also wrote Gifted Children: Myths and Realities), it explains some of the patterns of thinking that are unique to arts education.
In the article, the authors explain why the so-called "Mozart Effect" (the idea that listening to or performing music makes one smarter in other areas, like math) is not a strong idea. Research studies of this idea are weak, and the concept is not one which resounds with most arts educators as a valuable point of view for inclusion of arts education in the school day. Relying on the arts' ability to help improve other areas shortchanges all of the other artistic life skills that are unique to arts education.
In this article, those artistic life skills are discussed as observing, envisioning, innovating through exploration, and reflective self-evaluation.
The article is one of my favorites--definitely worth the three minutes of reading!
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