About Us
If you would like to have in-home lessons with our director or one of our great instructors, please click here.
If you are the director or owner of a school or other institution and would like to know more about our Enrichment Programs for Schools and other Organizations, please click here.
Personal Promise to our Valued Students: We strive to provide you with the best programs so you get
The Lepeley International Academy
We are an organization committed to fostering and maintaining music, languages & art education throughout the San Diego community. We believe that enrichment programs are a fundamental component to receiving a comprehensive education, and is essential in developing cognitive learning skills and task-orientated organizational skills. Additionally, learning music, languages and art is fun, and makes for a wonderful learning experience.
About the Director
John Paul has over ten years of experience in teaching, writing, recording and performing Educational Music in both Spanish and English. Strong visual sense, excellent communication skills, and the ability to translate any idea or game into an enjoyable song to sing along. A confident and concise communicator, able to deliver enthusiastic presentations with clarity and humor to diverse audiences. Seasoned teacher for music and instrument instruction (piano, violin, guitar -acoustic/electric-, clarinet, recorder, and drums).
We’ve been working with schools like St. Isidore in Danville, Acalanes in Walnut Creek, Lafayette Elementary in Lafayette, Bollinger in San Ramon, Carden West in Pleasanton, Valley Christian School in Dublin, Centerville, Shining Stars, and Scribbles in Freemont, Charter School in Livermore, and Rancho Romero in Alamo.
We’ve been also working with institutions like Art and Soul, Happy Feet, Viva el Español, Happy Talkers, and IES.
With a major in Music and a minor in Psychology, John-Paul’s musical program is an engaging system that motivates the student.
Also he understands that music education helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning, spatial intelligence (the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things), to think creatively and to solve problems by imagining various solutions, rejecting outdated rules and assumptions, to be more successful on standardized tests such as the SAT, and to achieve higher grades in school (his son is an A+ student already), provides children with an internal glimpse of other cultures and teaches them to be empathetic towards the people of these cultures, to earn craftsmanship as students study how details are put together painstakingly and what constitutes good, as opposed to mediocre, work, to learn the value of sustained effort to achieve excellence and the concrete rewards of hard work, how music enhances teamwork skills and discipline, how music provides children with a means of self-expression, how music study develops skills that are necessary in the workplace.
It focuses on “doing,” as opposed to observing, to conquer fear and to take risks, and that knowledge is limited but creativity is unlimited.
For you or for your children, learn Piano or Learn Guitar is the perfect gift.
Now you can take you lesson in three ways:
1. In-Home Lessons, if you prefer to have the instructor working 101 with you. This is the best way to learn if you are serious about learning, and you want to do it fast. Our program is 100% customized teach student individual needs and learning preferences. The instructor goes to your home.
2. Lessons in our studios, requires that student (or student’s parents) drive him/her to one of our places. We work together with several academies in the US.
3. Lessons On-Line, are great if you like repetition and you schedule makes it hard to set with the instructor at the same day/time every week.
MUSIC PROGRAM: In-home 101 Lessons
We offer lessons to learn to play piano/keyboard, violin, guitar (acoustic and electric), bass guitar, drums, saxophone and clarinet. We are also starting a group workshop called “My First Band 101,” pre-school music classes, and the CD-recording artist program.
We create an encouraging class atmosphere and we have the ability to match the student’s learning preferences. This is what set us apart from the regular music academies and facilitates the development of our student’s musical abilities.
OTHER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS WE OFFER FOR SCHOOLS AND INDIVIDUALS
We’ve been delivering high quality After School Enrichment Programs to instruction for more than 30 years in the US and overseas, to schools and institutions like St. Isidore, Rancho Romero, Acalanes, Valley View, Walnut Grove, Quarry Lane, Alamo, Hidden Hill, Monte Vista, Almond, Donlon, Fountainhead Montessori, St. Mary’s, Livermore Charter, Bollinger Canyon, St Philips Lutheran, Lafayette Elementary, Centerville, Scribbles, Shining Stars, Berkeley Children's Museum, Carden West, Happy Talkers, Happy Feet, IES, Art & Sould, Viva el Español, Cornerstone Fellowship, Vineyard Church, the diocese of Oakland, and the Valley Christian School. Working together with these institutions, we had touch many individuals and their families with the following programs:
Feel free to contact us if you would like your institution to incorporate one of these enrichment programs.
We offer in-home piano or guitar lessons for residents of San Diego in California. This modality, although a little bit more expensive, brings all the knowledge and expertise to your home. The instructor matches your learning preferences to make every session as productive and fun as possible. As an added value, instructor can help student with specific issues, practices for recitals, etc.
Right now we have available in-home lessons for the following programs:
Music:
Languages:
Art:
In-home Lessons are $20 for half an hour per student.
We offer flexible scheduling and a friendly cancellation policy. Just let us if you have to cancel for any reason 24 hours before the session. Contact us if you have any questions or would like to start your in-home piano or guitar lessons, or any other programs we provide.
Contact us if your school, organization is interested in making available any of the following program:
Music:
- Music for Pre K children
- Music for Elementary schools
- Music for new born with their parents
Languages
- Spanish
-Basic
- Conversation
- Grammar
- Traveling
- Business
- French
- English (ESL).
Computers: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Paintbrush, Moviemaker.
Dancing: Salsa and ballroom.
Art: Drawing, painting sculpting.
Acting class for children
Yoga for children
Motivation and Personal Development (positive psychology): for children or for adults.
Over the years we have worked with many institutions, providing enrichment programs to children and adults because we know that these kind of programs will provide them with activities that will enhance their brain and will benefit their lived and the lives of their families and community.
Enrichment Programs improve you life, and the life of your loved ones
If you have any question regarding any of these online programs or regarding our in-home lessons, send us your question using our contact form.
MUSIC AND BRAINPOWER
The pace of scientific research into music making has never been greater. New data about music’s relationship to brainpower, wellness and other phenomena is changing the way we perceive mankind’s oldest art form, and it’s having a real-world effect on decisions about educational priorities.
For instance, according to the University of Sarasota, and the East Texas State University, middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental music scored significantly higher than their non-band peers in standardized tests. University studies conducted in Georgia and Texas found significant correlations between the number of years of instrumental music instruction and academic achievement in math, science and language arts.
Also, neurological researches show that the students who were exposed to the music-based lessons scored a full 100 percent higher on fractions tests than those who learned in the conventional manner. Second-grade and third-grade students were taught fractions in an untraditional manner by teaching them basic music rhythm notation. The group was taught about the relationships between eighth, quarter, half and whole notes. Their peers received traditional fraction instruction.
MUSIC AND WELLNESS
New data about music’s relationship to brainpower, wellness and other phenomena is changing the way we perceive mankind’s oldest art form, and it’s having a real-world effect on decisions about educational priorities.
Research shows that Music majors are the most likely group of college grads to be admitted to medical school. Physician and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found that 66 percent of music majors who applied to med school were admitted, the highest percentage of any group. For comparison, (44 percent) of biochemistry majors were admitted. Also, a study of 7,500 university students revealed that music majors scored the highest reading scores among all majors including English, biology, chemistry and math.
Also, Music study can help kids understand advanced music concepts. A grasp of proportional math and fractions is a prerequisite to math at higher levels, and children who do not master these areas cannot understand more advanced math critical to high-tech fields. Music involves ratios, fractions, proportions and thinking in space and time. Second-grade students were given four months of piano keyboard training, as well as time using newly designed math software. The group scored over 27 percent higher on proportional math and fractions tests than children who used only the math software, according to the Neurological Research March, 1999.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL TESTS
High school students that participated in enrichment programs score higher on SATs in both verbal and math than their peers. In 2001, SAT takers with coursework or experience in music performance, for instance, scored 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 41 points higher on the math portion than students with no coursework or experience in the arts.
Also, college-age that participated in enrichment programs are emotionally healthier than their counterparts. A study conducted at the University of Texas looked at 362 students who were in their first semester of college. They were given three tests, measuring performance anxiety, emotional concerns and alcohol related problems. In addition to having fewer battles with the bottle, researchers also noted that the college-aged students that participated in enrichment programs seemed to have surer footing when facing tests.
A ten-year study, tracking more than 25,000 students, shows that active involvement in Enrichment Programs improves test scores. Regardless of socioeconomic background, students get higher marks in standardized tests than those who had no involvement. The test scores studied were not only standardized tests, such as the SAT, but also in reading proficiency exams.
The world's top academic countries place a high value on Enrichment Programs. Hungary, Netherlands and Japan stand atop worldwide science achievement and have strong commitment to this kind of programs. All three countries have required Enrichment Programs available at the elementary and middle school levels for several decades. The centrality of Enrichment Programs to learning in the top-ranked countries seems to contradict the United States' focus on math, science, vocabulary, and technology.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND SCHOLASTIC PERFORMANCE
Active participation in Enrichment Programs helps under-achievers. In Rhode Island, researchers studied eight public school first grade classes. Half of the classes became "test arts" groups, receiving ongoing music and visual arts training. In kindergarten, this group had lagged behind in scholastic performance. After seven months, the students were given a standardized test. The "test arts" group had caught up to their fellow students in reading and surpassed their classmates in math by 22 percent. In the second year of the project, the arts students widened this margin even further. Students were also evaluated on attitude and behavior. Classroom teachers noted improvement in these areas also.
"Enrichment Programs can be a positive force on all aspects of a child's life, particularly on their academic success. The study of Enrichment Programs by children has been linked to higher scores on the SAT and other learning aptitude tests, and has proven to be an invaluable tool in classrooms across the country. Given the impact Enrichment Programs can have on our children's education, we should support every effort to bring Enrichment Programs into their lives," according to U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM).
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
The nation's top business executives agree that active participation in any Enrichment Program can help repair weaknesses in American education and better prepare workers for the future.
On top o that, science says there are good medical reasons:
To start you in-home Piano or Guitar lessons, please click here.
It's always fun and it takes you out of your normal routine, which is good to give a buster your creativity. In other words, your thinking becomes clear to solve any challenges you may have.
Although it may seem like a lot of work, but practicing and learning songs is fun. For instance, playing guitar in a band, just playing some songs with your friends, showing your art pieces, talking in another language like Spanish or French is a blast as well. It is always cool when you start playing a song and 4 or 5 other people start singing along with your playing. Or how about playing the Happy Birthday song on the piano for your wife, son, dad, sister, brother, or other family member or friend, or even being able to play at church?
It is also very self gratifying, nothing feels as good as developing a new skills. After all, we are learning creatures. The more we learn, the stronger our brain gets. Imagine showing your new skills in front of a crowd to hundreds of impressed people. Even if it is only in front of a few friends or just yourself, you will always feel great when you nail that one artistic skill you've been working on for months.
Becoming a great musician, or being able to speak in different languages is not going to come easy, and it is going to require a lot of practice and hard work, so don't get discouraged, especially when you first start out. Professionals make it look easy, but it takes years upon years of practice to be as good as they are. If you put your mind to it and really dedicate yourself you can do it. You can take your new skill as far as you want, or you may only want to keep it a hobby in your free time, no matter which direction you take it, you won't regret it.
Learning a new skill will be a very rewarding experience that will impact your life and the life of people around you. It is fantastic just fooling around for a couple of minutes, which then turns to hours, after what you will feel like you went on vacation and you will more relaxed, more focused, in a better mood, and you will feel even younger.
This is a small list of reasons why you should start an Enrichment Program:
Stress Relief
We all have our share of stressful times, for one reason or another. It's nice to pick up an instrument and just play, or practice the skill you are working on. It is not like you're limited since you can unleash your creativity reflective of the mood you're in. This is useful if you're not very good at voicing out your feelings and putting it in words. In this sense art doesn't need words. Besides at the very root of it, we use it to express our emotions.
Community
Learning new skills open you up to a community of other people who like to learn what you are learning. You start to meet people who play other instruments, or sing, or paint, or are bilingual as well as the same. With this common interest you meet more people and maybe even start a band or other way to display your skills. Depending on how good you are, you could also get a number of people who appreciate the level of your talent and maybe even inspire others to learn how to play an instrument like the guitar, the piano, the violin, the drums, the saxophone, the accordion, bass guitar, or how to sing, how to paint, or how to dance Salsa like you do while you speak Spanish. Not only that, but most people are always turned on by the fact that a person have unknown talents.
If you are learning to play an instrument, everyone in the world listens to music. This only means that there is a worldwide community of musicians out there, and this applies to the other disciplines. So here's something for you. For instance, I play guitar and knowing how to play makes me appreciate the the work of other musicians. Knowing art makes me appreciate the work of mother nature and even buildings and other human designs. So that means, that all the time, instead of wondering what is the meaning of a song, a building, a tree, a river, our own life, I can sit and stand in awe of how nice or complicated or challenging the final result is.
Creativity Enhancement
Learning a new skill opens the doors to many things. The possibilities are endless. You can write your own songs or add your own flavor to some that are already out, paint or draw something you like, dance with you spouse, or get in shape practicing Yoga or Martial Arts. This will automatically flex your creative muscle, and everything will become yours and your outcome will become something that relates to you: Your Creation. As you feel good about creating, creating becomes natural for you and you start using your creativity on your daily life.
The feeling you get after using your creativity gives you a sense of accomplishment. You start to feel good about yourself as use your creativity over and over again. It gets even better when people start to compliment you on your hard work and become fans of your results, with your new skills as well as with your own life.
It's actually pretty hard to describe the type of feeling you get, but it's so worth it. Everything start to make sense, and your life becomes a never ending playground of possibilities and fun.
So Much Fun
If you love what yo do, using it becomes fun and you most likely will get addicted to it. Whenever you become this passionate about the new skill you are learning, you can just pick it up and all of a sudden time just flies by without you even realizing it. It doesn't even matter what you're doing, you could be writing a song, just playing random notes, painting a flower, dancing in the shower, or singing, or both. With knowing that, it's also a very very good way to kill time by practicing, instead of sitting in front of the TV set being another anonymous member of the audience instead of the main character of your own life. And believe me, people suffering depression are generally those who deny to be the main character of your own life. Don't do the same.
For some, the idea of practicing your new skill may sound boring. But in reality, there's always something new and exciting to learn new things. And if you find that there's nothing else that interests you, then there's always another instrument, media, dancing style or skill you can learn.
In conclusion, the possibilities are endless. Everyone has their own reasons for learning a new skill. The best way to really know if playing an instrument, or any other of the options we are presenting here is really for you, is to go out there and see for yourself. There is just so much to be discovered and so much potential behind everyone. So go out there and see for yourself, because that's what it's about, yourself: learn to play an instrument (or another instrument, if you already play one), learn another language, or get into another enrichment program that will enrich you life and the live of your loved ones.
To learn to play instruments (e.g. Learn to Play Acoustic or Electric Guitar, Piano), please click here.
To learn a new language (e.g. Spanish, French, Italian, English), please click here.
To learn from other enrichment programs (e.g. Art, Acting, Salsa, Yoga, Personal Development), please click here.
In-home piano lessons and in-home guitar lessons for all ages and skill levels.
If you are the director or owner of a school or other institution and would like to know more about our Enrichment Programs for Schools and other Organizations, please click here.
Personal Promise to our Valued Students: We strive to provide you with the best programs so you get
- Personal transformation as a byproduct of our Music Lessons In-Home or Online.
- Real-time mentoring
- Hands-on, in-depth musical training
The Lepeley International Academy
We are an organization committed to fostering and maintaining music, languages & art education throughout the San Diego community. We believe that enrichment programs are a fundamental component to receiving a comprehensive education, and is essential in developing cognitive learning skills and task-orientated organizational skills. Additionally, learning music, languages and art is fun, and makes for a wonderful learning experience.
About the Director
John Paul has over ten years of experience in teaching, writing, recording and performing Educational Music in both Spanish and English. Strong visual sense, excellent communication skills, and the ability to translate any idea or game into an enjoyable song to sing along. A confident and concise communicator, able to deliver enthusiastic presentations with clarity and humor to diverse audiences. Seasoned teacher for music and instrument instruction (piano, violin, guitar -acoustic/electric-, clarinet, recorder, and drums).
- Director of the Valley Christian After School Music Program (Elementary, Jr/High School)
- Director of the Carden West School’s Summer Camp 2006, and assistant director in 2005
- Music teacher at the Carden West School (pre school-elementary)
- Music teacher fro the San Ramon Unified District, Rancho Romero School (Elementary)
- Director of the St. Mary’s Hispanic Choir and Queen of All Saints for several years
- Perform with churches like St. Isidore, Valley Christian, St. Francis, St Bonaventure
- Started a pro-bono music program for low income families in Livermore together with Serve The City
- Wrote and produced three successful Christmas programs, and four Spring concerts
- Integrated Music Technology with traditional music and developed new courses
We’ve been working with schools like St. Isidore in Danville, Acalanes in Walnut Creek, Lafayette Elementary in Lafayette, Bollinger in San Ramon, Carden West in Pleasanton, Valley Christian School in Dublin, Centerville, Shining Stars, and Scribbles in Freemont, Charter School in Livermore, and Rancho Romero in Alamo.
We’ve been also working with institutions like Art and Soul, Happy Feet, Viva el Español, Happy Talkers, and IES.
With a major in Music and a minor in Psychology, John-Paul’s musical program is an engaging system that motivates the student.
Also he understands that music education helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning, spatial intelligence (the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things), to think creatively and to solve problems by imagining various solutions, rejecting outdated rules and assumptions, to be more successful on standardized tests such as the SAT, and to achieve higher grades in school (his son is an A+ student already), provides children with an internal glimpse of other cultures and teaches them to be empathetic towards the people of these cultures, to earn craftsmanship as students study how details are put together painstakingly and what constitutes good, as opposed to mediocre, work, to learn the value of sustained effort to achieve excellence and the concrete rewards of hard work, how music enhances teamwork skills and discipline, how music provides children with a means of self-expression, how music study develops skills that are necessary in the workplace.
It focuses on “doing,” as opposed to observing, to conquer fear and to take risks, and that knowledge is limited but creativity is unlimited.
For you or for your children, learn Piano or Learn Guitar is the perfect gift.
Now you can take you lesson in three ways:
1. In-Home Lessons, if you prefer to have the instructor working 101 with you. This is the best way to learn if you are serious about learning, and you want to do it fast. Our program is 100% customized teach student individual needs and learning preferences. The instructor goes to your home.
2. Lessons in our studios, requires that student (or student’s parents) drive him/her to one of our places. We work together with several academies in the US.
3. Lessons On-Line, are great if you like repetition and you schedule makes it hard to set with the instructor at the same day/time every week.
MUSIC PROGRAM: In-home 101 Lessons
We offer lessons to learn to play piano/keyboard, violin, guitar (acoustic and electric), bass guitar, drums, saxophone and clarinet. We are also starting a group workshop called “My First Band 101,” pre-school music classes, and the CD-recording artist program.
We create an encouraging class atmosphere and we have the ability to match the student’s learning preferences. This is what set us apart from the regular music academies and facilitates the development of our student’s musical abilities.
OTHER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS WE OFFER FOR SCHOOLS AND INDIVIDUALS
We’ve been delivering high quality After School Enrichment Programs to instruction for more than 30 years in the US and overseas, to schools and institutions like St. Isidore, Rancho Romero, Acalanes, Valley View, Walnut Grove, Quarry Lane, Alamo, Hidden Hill, Monte Vista, Almond, Donlon, Fountainhead Montessori, St. Mary’s, Livermore Charter, Bollinger Canyon, St Philips Lutheran, Lafayette Elementary, Centerville, Scribbles, Shining Stars, Berkeley Children's Museum, Carden West, Happy Talkers, Happy Feet, IES, Art & Sould, Viva el Español, Cornerstone Fellowship, Vineyard Church, the diocese of Oakland, and the Valley Christian School. Working together with these institutions, we had touch many individuals and their families with the following programs:
- Languages: English, Spanish, French
- Music: Piano, Keyboard, Guitar, Violin, Saxophone, Clarinet, Recorder, Bass, Drums, Music for Pre K.
- Computers
- Dancing: Salsa and ballroom
- Art
- Yoga for children
- Motivation and Personal Development (positive psychology)
Feel free to contact us if you would like your institution to incorporate one of these enrichment programs.
We offer in-home piano or guitar lessons for residents of San Diego in California. This modality, although a little bit more expensive, brings all the knowledge and expertise to your home. The instructor matches your learning preferences to make every session as productive and fun as possible. As an added value, instructor can help student with specific issues, practices for recitals, etc.
Right now we have available in-home lessons for the following programs:
Music:
- Piano or Keyboard in-home lessons
- Electric or Acoustic Guitar in-home lessons
- Recorder in-home lessons
Languages:
- Spanish
- French
- English (ESL)
Art:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Sculpting
In-home Lessons are $20 for half an hour per student.
We offer flexible scheduling and a friendly cancellation policy. Just let us if you have to cancel for any reason 24 hours before the session. Contact us if you have any questions or would like to start your in-home piano or guitar lessons, or any other programs we provide.
Contact us if your school, organization is interested in making available any of the following program:
Music:
- Music for Pre K children
- Music for Elementary schools
- Music for new born with their parents
Languages
- Spanish
-Basic
- Conversation
- Grammar
- Traveling
- Business
- French
- English (ESL).
Computers: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Paintbrush, Moviemaker.
Dancing: Salsa and ballroom.
Art: Drawing, painting sculpting.
Acting class for children
Yoga for children
Motivation and Personal Development (positive psychology): for children or for adults.
Over the years we have worked with many institutions, providing enrichment programs to children and adults because we know that these kind of programs will provide them with activities that will enhance their brain and will benefit their lived and the lives of their families and community.
Enrichment Programs improve you life, and the life of your loved ones
If you have any question regarding any of these online programs or regarding our in-home lessons, send us your question using our contact form.
MUSIC AND BRAINPOWER
The pace of scientific research into music making has never been greater. New data about music’s relationship to brainpower, wellness and other phenomena is changing the way we perceive mankind’s oldest art form, and it’s having a real-world effect on decisions about educational priorities.
For instance, according to the University of Sarasota, and the East Texas State University, middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental music scored significantly higher than their non-band peers in standardized tests. University studies conducted in Georgia and Texas found significant correlations between the number of years of instrumental music instruction and academic achievement in math, science and language arts.
Also, neurological researches show that the students who were exposed to the music-based lessons scored a full 100 percent higher on fractions tests than those who learned in the conventional manner. Second-grade and third-grade students were taught fractions in an untraditional manner by teaching them basic music rhythm notation. The group was taught about the relationships between eighth, quarter, half and whole notes. Their peers received traditional fraction instruction.
MUSIC AND WELLNESS
New data about music’s relationship to brainpower, wellness and other phenomena is changing the way we perceive mankind’s oldest art form, and it’s having a real-world effect on decisions about educational priorities.
Research shows that Music majors are the most likely group of college grads to be admitted to medical school. Physician and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found that 66 percent of music majors who applied to med school were admitted, the highest percentage of any group. For comparison, (44 percent) of biochemistry majors were admitted. Also, a study of 7,500 university students revealed that music majors scored the highest reading scores among all majors including English, biology, chemistry and math.
Also, Music study can help kids understand advanced music concepts. A grasp of proportional math and fractions is a prerequisite to math at higher levels, and children who do not master these areas cannot understand more advanced math critical to high-tech fields. Music involves ratios, fractions, proportions and thinking in space and time. Second-grade students were given four months of piano keyboard training, as well as time using newly designed math software. The group scored over 27 percent higher on proportional math and fractions tests than children who used only the math software, according to the Neurological Research March, 1999.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL TESTS
High school students that participated in enrichment programs score higher on SATs in both verbal and math than their peers. In 2001, SAT takers with coursework or experience in music performance, for instance, scored 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 41 points higher on the math portion than students with no coursework or experience in the arts.
Also, college-age that participated in enrichment programs are emotionally healthier than their counterparts. A study conducted at the University of Texas looked at 362 students who were in their first semester of college. They were given three tests, measuring performance anxiety, emotional concerns and alcohol related problems. In addition to having fewer battles with the bottle, researchers also noted that the college-aged students that participated in enrichment programs seemed to have surer footing when facing tests.
A ten-year study, tracking more than 25,000 students, shows that active involvement in Enrichment Programs improves test scores. Regardless of socioeconomic background, students get higher marks in standardized tests than those who had no involvement. The test scores studied were not only standardized tests, such as the SAT, but also in reading proficiency exams.
The world's top academic countries place a high value on Enrichment Programs. Hungary, Netherlands and Japan stand atop worldwide science achievement and have strong commitment to this kind of programs. All three countries have required Enrichment Programs available at the elementary and middle school levels for several decades. The centrality of Enrichment Programs to learning in the top-ranked countries seems to contradict the United States' focus on math, science, vocabulary, and technology.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND SCHOLASTIC PERFORMANCE
Active participation in Enrichment Programs helps under-achievers. In Rhode Island, researchers studied eight public school first grade classes. Half of the classes became "test arts" groups, receiving ongoing music and visual arts training. In kindergarten, this group had lagged behind in scholastic performance. After seven months, the students were given a standardized test. The "test arts" group had caught up to their fellow students in reading and surpassed their classmates in math by 22 percent. In the second year of the project, the arts students widened this margin even further. Students were also evaluated on attitude and behavior. Classroom teachers noted improvement in these areas also.
"Enrichment Programs can be a positive force on all aspects of a child's life, particularly on their academic success. The study of Enrichment Programs by children has been linked to higher scores on the SAT and other learning aptitude tests, and has proven to be an invaluable tool in classrooms across the country. Given the impact Enrichment Programs can have on our children's education, we should support every effort to bring Enrichment Programs into their lives," according to U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM).
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE
The nation's top business executives agree that active participation in any Enrichment Program can help repair weaknesses in American education and better prepare workers for the future.
On top o that, science says there are good medical reasons:
- It can reverse stress at the molecular level, according to studies conducted by Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Applied Biosystems (as published in Medical Science Monitor)
- Can help reduce job burnout and improve your mood, according to a study exposing 112 long-term care workers to six recreational music-making sessions of group drumming and keyboard accompaniment. (as published in Advances in Mind-Body Medicine)
- Increases human growth hormone (HgH production among active older Americans. A study following 130 people over two 10-week periods measured participants' levels of HgH. The findings revealed that the test group whit active participation in enrichment programs showed significantly higher levels of HgH than the control group people who did not participated for one reason or another. (University of Miami)
To start you in-home Piano or Guitar lessons, please click here.
It's always fun and it takes you out of your normal routine, which is good to give a buster your creativity. In other words, your thinking becomes clear to solve any challenges you may have.
Although it may seem like a lot of work, but practicing and learning songs is fun. For instance, playing guitar in a band, just playing some songs with your friends, showing your art pieces, talking in another language like Spanish or French is a blast as well. It is always cool when you start playing a song and 4 or 5 other people start singing along with your playing. Or how about playing the Happy Birthday song on the piano for your wife, son, dad, sister, brother, or other family member or friend, or even being able to play at church?
It is also very self gratifying, nothing feels as good as developing a new skills. After all, we are learning creatures. The more we learn, the stronger our brain gets. Imagine showing your new skills in front of a crowd to hundreds of impressed people. Even if it is only in front of a few friends or just yourself, you will always feel great when you nail that one artistic skill you've been working on for months.
Becoming a great musician, or being able to speak in different languages is not going to come easy, and it is going to require a lot of practice and hard work, so don't get discouraged, especially when you first start out. Professionals make it look easy, but it takes years upon years of practice to be as good as they are. If you put your mind to it and really dedicate yourself you can do it. You can take your new skill as far as you want, or you may only want to keep it a hobby in your free time, no matter which direction you take it, you won't regret it.
Learning a new skill will be a very rewarding experience that will impact your life and the life of people around you. It is fantastic just fooling around for a couple of minutes, which then turns to hours, after what you will feel like you went on vacation and you will more relaxed, more focused, in a better mood, and you will feel even younger.
This is a small list of reasons why you should start an Enrichment Program:
Stress Relief
We all have our share of stressful times, for one reason or another. It's nice to pick up an instrument and just play, or practice the skill you are working on. It is not like you're limited since you can unleash your creativity reflective of the mood you're in. This is useful if you're not very good at voicing out your feelings and putting it in words. In this sense art doesn't need words. Besides at the very root of it, we use it to express our emotions.
Community
Learning new skills open you up to a community of other people who like to learn what you are learning. You start to meet people who play other instruments, or sing, or paint, or are bilingual as well as the same. With this common interest you meet more people and maybe even start a band or other way to display your skills. Depending on how good you are, you could also get a number of people who appreciate the level of your talent and maybe even inspire others to learn how to play an instrument like the guitar, the piano, the violin, the drums, the saxophone, the accordion, bass guitar, or how to sing, how to paint, or how to dance Salsa like you do while you speak Spanish. Not only that, but most people are always turned on by the fact that a person have unknown talents.
If you are learning to play an instrument, everyone in the world listens to music. This only means that there is a worldwide community of musicians out there, and this applies to the other disciplines. So here's something for you. For instance, I play guitar and knowing how to play makes me appreciate the the work of other musicians. Knowing art makes me appreciate the work of mother nature and even buildings and other human designs. So that means, that all the time, instead of wondering what is the meaning of a song, a building, a tree, a river, our own life, I can sit and stand in awe of how nice or complicated or challenging the final result is.
Creativity Enhancement
Learning a new skill opens the doors to many things. The possibilities are endless. You can write your own songs or add your own flavor to some that are already out, paint or draw something you like, dance with you spouse, or get in shape practicing Yoga or Martial Arts. This will automatically flex your creative muscle, and everything will become yours and your outcome will become something that relates to you: Your Creation. As you feel good about creating, creating becomes natural for you and you start using your creativity on your daily life.
The feeling you get after using your creativity gives you a sense of accomplishment. You start to feel good about yourself as use your creativity over and over again. It gets even better when people start to compliment you on your hard work and become fans of your results, with your new skills as well as with your own life.
It's actually pretty hard to describe the type of feeling you get, but it's so worth it. Everything start to make sense, and your life becomes a never ending playground of possibilities and fun.
So Much Fun
If you love what yo do, using it becomes fun and you most likely will get addicted to it. Whenever you become this passionate about the new skill you are learning, you can just pick it up and all of a sudden time just flies by without you even realizing it. It doesn't even matter what you're doing, you could be writing a song, just playing random notes, painting a flower, dancing in the shower, or singing, or both. With knowing that, it's also a very very good way to kill time by practicing, instead of sitting in front of the TV set being another anonymous member of the audience instead of the main character of your own life. And believe me, people suffering depression are generally those who deny to be the main character of your own life. Don't do the same.
For some, the idea of practicing your new skill may sound boring. But in reality, there's always something new and exciting to learn new things. And if you find that there's nothing else that interests you, then there's always another instrument, media, dancing style or skill you can learn.
In conclusion, the possibilities are endless. Everyone has their own reasons for learning a new skill. The best way to really know if playing an instrument, or any other of the options we are presenting here is really for you, is to go out there and see for yourself. There is just so much to be discovered and so much potential behind everyone. So go out there and see for yourself, because that's what it's about, yourself: learn to play an instrument (or another instrument, if you already play one), learn another language, or get into another enrichment program that will enrich you life and the live of your loved ones.
To learn to play instruments (e.g. Learn to Play Acoustic or Electric Guitar, Piano), please click here.
To learn a new language (e.g. Spanish, French, Italian, English), please click here.
To learn from other enrichment programs (e.g. Art, Acting, Salsa, Yoga, Personal Development), please click here.
In-home piano lessons and in-home guitar lessons for all ages and skill levels.
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