For Parents

Your gift of music may be more valuable than you know

While Dr. Suzuki intoned “Beautiful tone, beautiful heart,” music is also important to the human brain. Humans are hard-wired to recognize the cornerstones of music: pitch, rhythm, and intonation. A person with no musical training at all can discern an out-of-tune note. Apparently verbal communication, a critical survival tool, uses these same elements.

Music makes the brain grow

Childhood music lessons actually enlarge portions of the brain. German researchers found that the brain area used to analyze musical pitch is an average of 25% larger in musicians. The younger the musical training begins, the larger the area.[1]

Students in music generally test higher

One ten-year study from Dr. James Catterall analyzed data from over 25,000 students from the U.S. Department of Education. This study showed that students involved in music generally tested higher than those who had no music involvement, without regard to socio-economic level. Test scores were higher in standardized tests, such as the SAT, but also in reading proficiency exams.[2] Another study by Dr. Lewis Thomas of 7500 university students revealed that music majors scored the highest reading scores among all majors, including English, biology, chemistry, and math. In the same study, 66% of music majors who applied to medical school were admitted, the highest percentage of any major, including biochemistry (44% admitted).[3]

Things 4 Strings™ Patented bow accessories will give your child a head start, no matter whether your child is involved with:

*Private lessons     *Class instruction     *Suzuki™ Program     *ANY method book

Your child will progress faster if you make a Things 4 Strings® bow accessory part of the initial package you rent or buy.

[1] Nature, April 23, 1998. [2] Dr. James Catterall, UCLA, 1997. [3] The Comparative Academic Abilities of Students in Education and in Other Areas of a Multi-focus University, Peter H. Wood, ERIC Document No. ED327480. The Case for Music in the Schools, Phi Delta Kappan, February, 1994.

"I originally bought this for my daughter that had just started cello, 
but found that my son with 2 years experience also liked to play with the cellophant. 
It really helped reinforce his correct hand position! Great Product!!!" -- L. Martin, Parent