Take Note Studio Blog

  We’ve all heard the idea that classical music can make you smarter.  We’re told that listening to music while studying for a test can improve your score, or that playing music for a child in the womb can increase their IQ. In truth, the link between music and intelligence has yet to be proven. But while playing Mozart for your child may not give them a genius-level IQ, recent studies show that music can play a vital role in brain development. Music enhances cognitive, emotional, and social development, especially when babies are exposed to it from an early age.  Let’s take a closer look at how music boosts brain development in babies. Music Exposure Improves Pattern Recognition  A study done by the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS) found that playing music for 9-month-old babies while they played with their parents improved their brain’s processing of rhythm in both music and speech . Christina Zhao, lead researcher on th...

  Love of music is a universal thing.  Whether we listen to music in the car, strum a guitar around the campfire, sing in a choir, or tickle the keys of a piano in our free time, we all enjoy music in some way. But did you know that music has the ability to enhance every part of our lives? It’s true — music has physical, mental, and emotional benefits. This is especially true when we learn to play an instrument. What’s more, when children learn an instrument at a young age, it can boost their development in a number of amazing ways. Here are just a few of the ways that learning to play a musical instrument can enhance your child’s life : 1. Improves Memory Skills Learning any new skill forms new neural pathways, keeping our brains healthy and agile. Learning to play an instrument is no exception.   Playing an instrument is to the brain what a total body workout is to the body . It uses every part of our brain, including our motor, auditory, and visual cortexes — important...

      Every parent knows the frustration of trying to get a fussy baby to sleep. You try everything...bouncing, swaying, feeding, back rubs...and nothing seems to work. You’re stressed and exhausted, and you feel heartsick for your poor little one. Whether it’s due to colic or any number of reasons, when sleep eludes your baby, you both suffer.   There are a number of techniques that can help your child get their much-needed rest, and one of them is music. Let’s look at how music can soothe your baby so they (and you) can get some sleep. Music Affects Babies Even Before Birth Music has an effect on babies even before they’re born. As early as 16-18 weeks, a baby hears its first sound; at 24 weeks, their ears are developing more, and they will respond to voices and noise. In the final months of pregnancy, a baby can recognize their mother’s voice, language, word patterns, and even rhymes.   In the 3rd trimester, your baby can definitely hear and respond to the mu...

Summer means the end of school year routines and time to make fun summer plans! From beach days and picnics to ball games and family vacations, there’s so much to love about summer. As you’re making your summer plans, don’t forget to add summer music programs at Take Note Studio to your list!  Our summer programs offer your children a chance to learn through the arts while enjoying play time with their classmates. Here are 9 reasons to love Take Note Studio this summer! 1. Maintain a Comfortable, Predictable Routine All Summer Long Having a routine is valuable to you and your children. Children thrive within structure: a routine gives them a sense of security and helps remove the fear of the unknown. And when they feel secure, kids are more free to think, feel, and be creative. A routine establishes a sense of consistency and gives kids (and parents) something to look forward to. It also offers parents and children opportunities to connect throughout the week. Whether it’s enjoying...