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Music has offered many benefits to individuals and society for centuries. From providing pleasure and relaxation cheap coach purses outlet , to offering anthems that stir national pride, music of every form has been used to express the feelings of people and society in ways that often surpass words alone. This paper will examine three of the many ways in which music benefits modern society, including the impact of music education in schools, the effects of Mozart’s music on the brain, and the use of music as therapy for the ill. This discussion will demonstrate that music plays a vital role in modern society by providing a variety of aesthetic and useful functions.
Music education in schools has had a powerful impact on many aspects of society. It has not only fostered an appreciation for various musical forms and helped to develop many talented musicians, but music education has also helped to introduce students to new cultures and help them understand how art reflects various ways of life. Since 2000, multicultural music has been a major part of every aspect of the music curriculum in schools (Mark, 2002). Without music education, many students would not have the appreciation for other cultures.
In the United States during the 1950s, music education was based on aesthetic values, which remained the focus for professional music educators until the 1990s, when values such as better performance in other school subjects and improved behavior became the emphasis (Mark, 2002). Modern music education advocates do not repudiate the aesthetic side of music education, but an “ambivalent dichotomy between musical and nonmusical values as a foundational basis for music education continues to this day” (Mark, 2002). In this respect, music education in schools serves to provide students with a fundamental appreciation for the aesthetic value of music abercrombie and fitch , as well as a form of skills training that benefit other areas of education. Therefore, one may assume that without music education in schools, there would be fewer people who appreciated music, the aesthetic standards for music would be much lower and overall academic performance and educational achievement would be lowered. In addition to these affects, one of the greatest impacts upon society could fewer musicians in the population.
Another example of the importance of music in society is provided by the Mozart Effect, which claimed that listening to classical music can raise a person’s intelligence (Holden, 1999). First noted by researchers at the University of California, Irvine in 1993, the Mozart Effect study contended that listening to a Mozart two-piano sonata briefly raised college students’ spatial skills.
In the study, one group of subjects listened to Mozart, one group listened to relaxation tapes, and the third listened to silence. After listening, the study found significantly higher spatial IQ scores for the Mozart group than for the relaxation or the silence groups, but the so-called Mozart Effect lasted only ten to fifteen minutes (Holden, 1999). In addition, researchers believed the effects would not be limited to Mozart’s music but asserted complex music was required for benefits to spatial reasoning, rather than repetitive music. (Holden, 1999). They also believed that the effects would be found for other aspects of intelligence, such as verbal reasoning or short-term memory (Holden, 1999). However no further definitions of complexity were presented. Also, the authors did not claim that, but suggested that these be tested.
The same researchers later reported that piano lessons gave a sustained boost to spatial skills in preschoolers (Holden, 1999). These studies suggest that spatial awareness and the need to think several steps ahead, which are both required in piano playing, reinforce certain brain activity to enhance aspects of intelligence. Like the Mozart Effect, piano lessons may well condition the brain just as muscle-building conditions an athlete, and may be a skill that is fundamental for refining the ability of the brain to make spatial and temporal distinctions, according to some researchers (Holden, 1999).
Some critics have questioned the findings of the Mozart Effect as well as studies connecting music with enhanced brain activity. Nevertheless, the Mozart Effect and the impact of piano lessons on young students suggest that music contribute to student’s intelligence. In this respect, music education in schools is important to developing intelligence to its full potential. Because intelligence is vital for advancements in technology, government, justice, and other aspects of society, we would suffer in many ways from a population that received no music education and had a lower intelligence.
Music therapy illustrates another benefit of music to modern society. Music therapy is a rapidly growing discipline, which recently became a state registered profession in the United Kingdom (Hughes, 2003). The Association of Professional Music Therapists had 490 practicing members at the end of 2000 and, and most work in close collaboration with the wider clinical team (Hughes, 2003). Music therapy is an interactive and non-verbal intervention that provides patients with a process through which they can express themselves and interact more easily (Hughes, 2003).
Music therapists work with a wide range of patients, including adults and children with autism, learning difficulties, or emotional and behavioral problems, with a growing body of research in other applications (Hughes, 2003).
A music therapist is trained in several areas. They must be a highly skilled musician as well as receive training in aspects of psychological theory and clinical work. The therapy is based on the belief that the fundamental components of music form the basis of social communication (Hughes, 2003). According to some specialists, babies use a range of sounds to communicate with their mothers and music therapists work with patients who may have lost or never acquired the skills of interaction by drawing on this innate sense of music (Hughes, 2003). Patients require no musical experience but use primarily percussion instruments to create a musical interaction with the therapist (Hughes, 2003). According to one researcher, “Music has been the profoundest non-chemical medication for our patients,” while another doctor noted that music therapy should “be prescribable and used as a serious therapeutic tool in serious clinical work” (Hughes, 2003). Music therapists have also contributed to forensic psychiatry coach outlet , where they can help to rebuild the skills such as coping with intimacy and understanding the consequences of their actions.
As the above discussion of music therapy, the Mozart Effect and music education in schools demonstrate, music makes many valuable contributions to society. From creating a richer culture through music education, to raising intelligence and assisting patients, music is important in modern society.

Sources:
Holden, Constance. (March 26, 1999). “Music as Brain Builder.”
Science, 2007.
Hughes, Rebecca. (March 2003). “Music Therapy.” Student BMJ, 76.
Mark, Michael L. ” (September 2002). “A Dynamic Half Century for
Music Education.” Music Educators Journal, 17-18.

We live in a mobile world. We want everything on the go, fast and quick and of course we want it without wires. We’ve been spoiled by the world of wireless, with laptops, cell phones and of course, mobile music gadgets. Nothing is more popular than mobile entertainment, where music and video is hand-held and easily accessible from anywhere and at anytime. Music is one for of entertainment that is most definitely timeless. Music has the power to uplift, make you dance and stir emotions. We love to dance to you, sing with it and gives us a boost when driving to work.
The portable music world with the many brands of portable mp3 players on the market today enjoys lots of popularity among consumers. And the Apple iPod delivers the best in mobile music and video.
The iPod is a portable music device that organizes large libraries of music into one hand-held device. You can download music files from Apple iTunes or transfer all your CD’s onto the iPod. Also, iTunes is no longer the only game in town, you can use other music services like Rhapsody and Napster to download songs to the iPod. It is very easy to use and comes with snug little earphones that are comfortable and have great sound quality.
There are also many different iPod accessories, which make the mobile gadget, great for car and home use. Accessory kits and pods, which dock the iPod and come with large speakers for listening to your music at home. The car kit plugs into your car stereo and allows you to listen to the iPod in the car. How cool is that?
They come in several models with different storage capacities, with the Touch holding the most songs, up to 7,000. Video is another benefit of the iPod Touch, which brings movies, and television shows for viewing from anywhere. Imagine that boring bus or subway trip while watching the latest blockbuster? It would be much more entertaining that’s for sure. The Touch has a great big screen, that has a very good resolution and a crisp and clear picture.
With all the gadgets that are available today, the portable music player continues to surpass market and industry expectations. There are several brands of portable mp3 players, including SanDisk and the Microsoft Zune. While the iPod enjoys the most popularity, the others also do quite well in a competitive market.
Learn more about iPods, and other brands of mp3 players, with guides, iPod reviews, download tips, iPod Accessories Guides and shop for the cheapest priced iPods, Zune, Zen mp3 players and all accessories at Super Cheap iPods.

There are hundreds of live wedding bands advertising their services so here are 10 points to consider when choosing a band.
Musical Ability This is arguably the most important factor when booking a band, and is also probably the only factor that will be recognised by your guests. Many good bands will have backgrounds in top music schools or performing with ‘big name’ artists. This does not guarantee quality but it is a very safe bet. It is the band’s ability to cover your favourite tunes in a musical way that will make or break the performance.
Repertoire A good wedding band should have a broad repertoire, and be flexible with it in order to be able to cater to a variety of styles. Bands that can cover a bit of everything (soul, pop, rock, modern chart, 70s, 80s and even jazz/swing) will be the most flexible as they can tailor their performance to the exact specification of the client.
Experience The ideal band will have played at many (possibly hundreds) of weddings before and will have come across most situations. The band will then be able to adapt to a last minute schedule change and they will know when and how to change the set list to cater for the audience. There is no point in playing a set of 60s rock ‘n’ roll if everyone wants to hear ‘80s pop!
Professionalism This is paramount at a wedding as this will be the biggest day of their life for most clients. It can’t just be treated as “another gig” to get through. Most people who book a live band for their wedding will never have booked one before, and will probably never book one again, so the band should guide the client in all aspects of the booking including schedule, equipment, repertoire, size of band etc. No two weddings are the same and a good band will understand this!
How do you choose a band from the hundreds on offer? The most important thing is to DO YOUR RESEARCH. The first place to start is the internet. A good professional band should invest in a good website, good demo recordings and good advertising, so they wont be difficult to find. Ask the band where they have played before and how many weddings they have performed at. Speak to the band manager on the phone too, or even meet in person. This will give you a good idea into how professional they really are.
How do you compare prices between the bands? You should ask for a FULLY INCLUSIVE quote from all bands and ask them to list what is included. In addition to the musician fees they should always include a PA system, stage lighting, background music between sets and travel expenses. Always check how much live music you actually get for your money too as some bands will quote for 120 minutes (2 x 60) and some will quote for 90 minutes (2 x 45).
Can you view a band live before booking them? Unfortunately most professional wedding bands do not have live public performances that you can view them at. It is always worth asking though as you may be able to view them at another wedding or possibly a public showcase if they have one.
Should you book through an entertainment agency or direct with a band? Entertainment agencies are a good way to find bands as they will work with bands on a regular basis and will know exactly who is good at what. You will usually pay a little more (20% on average) for a band from an agency though, so if you are on a tight budget it may be best to book directly with a band. If booking through an agency always make sure that they clearly state the commission they are charging and ask who the contract will be with; the band or the agency. This could make a big difference to how your booking is dealt with and the level of come back you have should something go wrong.
How much should you expect to pay? Most well established, PROFESSIONAL wedding bands will fall into the region between £1000 and £2500 and the price will depend on the size of band and the distance they need to travel to your event. Bands that charge a very small amount may be inexperienced, have no contract or insurance, and are probably not full time professional musicians. You should always ask what is included in the package and what level of protection the band’s contract gives you.
Why should you choose a live band over a DJ? A live band gives much more of a ‘wow factor’ than a DJ and will often make or break the evening party. DJs are definitely useful at what they do, and in some cases will be more suited to a wedding than a live band, but nothing can beat a live band for the energy, crowd interaction and sheer enjoyment factor!

Dave Odams is the founder and owner of The Musicquarium, a service offering Wedding Bands in London. Their live bands cover the whole musical spectrum; funk, soul, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, pop, rock, indie, modern chart, jazz and swing.