www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 19, 2012 · 16 Young People's Theatre for the GTA & Southwestern Ontario Great Big Theatre Company Fall Registration Better learners Continued from page 15 Acting Classes Fall/Winter/Spring 2012-13 For Ages 6 to 13 Nine-week Sessions City Parent Magazines Reader's Choice 2011 & 2012 BEST DRAMA SCHOOL A great confidence and skill building experience! onstage@gbtc.com · www.gbtc.com 1-866-864-4282 (TOLL-FREE) Ongoing research continues to support the theory that music education can help children on many levels. In Canada, a research group from McMaster University conducted their own study into music education. That study, which was published in the journal Brain in 2006, examined two groups of children, ages 4 to 6. Each were taught the same lessons, but one group was also given musical instruction. The study found that the group of children who received musical instruction scored much better than their peers in literacy, mathematics, IQ, and memory skills. Long Island University researchers Joseph Piro and Camilo Ortiz found that children exposed to a multi-year program of music instruction, involving training in increasingly complex rhythmic, tonal, and practical skills, displayed superior cognitive performance in reading skills compared to their Music lessons pay off for kids. peers who did not receive musical training. The authors concluded that, "because neural response to music is a widely distributed system within the brain, it would not be unreasonable to expect that some processing networks for music and language behaviors, namely reading, located in both hemispheres of the brain would overlap." Music education is not just for the average student. Other research shows it may be beneficial to children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. A study completed at Stanford University showed that mastering a musical instrument improves the ability to process parts of the spoken language. The researchers believe that additional research might develop a way to use the knowledge obtained in the study to increase language development for individuals with dyslexia or cognitive disorders. In many schools, music education is being drastically reduced or eliminated. Parents may want to look outside the classroom for music instruction or play more music at home. (MC) JOIN The Oakville Children's Choir Choral Music Excellence for Children and Youth ages 5 - 18 Recreational & Competitive Dance Ages 3+ Little Notes Preparatory Choir Cherub Choir Intermediate Choir Senior Choir Chamber Choir Indigo Boys Choir Vocal Coaching Theory Instruction Music Festivals Community Performances Social Activities Recordings International Tours The Oakville Children's Choir - 123 Maurice Drive, Suite 203, Oakville L6K 2W6 - (905) 337-7104 - www.oakvillechildrenschoir.org Ballet | Jazz | Tap | Hip Hop | Lyrical | Acro Classes start Monday September 17th, with regular office hours Mon - Thurs (1 p.m. - 9 p.m.) Saturday (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) 2210 Speers Rd (west of 3rd Line) · 905-815-9239 · allegrodance.ca Call 905-337-7104 to set up an audition for our 2012/2013 season Laura Dacyshyn, Director - former dancer with the National Ballet of Canada