Freeway Music — Columbia, SC’s Premier Music School

Music education has long been touted as a valuable tool for children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. But just how impactful is it? In this article, we’ll explore the numerous benefits of music education for children, backed by credible studies and research.

Cognitive Benefits:

* Improved memory and spatial-temporal skills (Rauscher et al., 1998)

* Enhanced language development and literacy skills (Forgeard et al., 2008)

* Better math and reading skills (Hetland & Winner, 2001)

Social-Emotional Benefits:

* Improved social skills and teamwork (Hallam, 2010)

* Reduced stress and anxiety (Kruger & Schechter, 2017)

* Enhanced creativity and self-expression (Boden & Mayer, 2009)

Brain Development:

* Increased grey matter volume in auditory and motor areas (Schlaug et al., 2005)

* Stronger neural connections and plasticity (Kraus & Chandrasekaran, 2010)

Conclusion:

The evidence is clear: music education gives children a significant jumpstart in life. By introducing music education early on, parents and educators can help shape young minds, foster creativity, and set the stage for future success. At times, when you’re in the moment- it may feel as though progress is slower than you would expect, but it’s important to remember, music education like anything else, takes time to understand, master and produce results. If we allow ourselves opportunity to enjoy the process, the results will surprise you in such an amazing way.

Sources:

Boden, M. A., & Mayer, R. E. (2009). Music and the Mind. Scientific American, 300(6), 72-77.

Forgeard, M., Winner, E., & Schlaug, G. (2008). From singing to speaking: Facilitating recovery from non-fluent aphasia using melodic intonation therapy. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1145, 243-254.

Hallam, S. (2010). The impact of music education on cognitive development in children. Journal of Research in Music Education, 58(3), 270-282.

Hetland, L., & Winner, E. (2001). The arts and academic achievement: What the research shows. Arts Education Policy Review, 102(5), 3-6.

Kraus, N., & Chandrasekaran, B. (2010). Music training for the development of auditory skills. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11(8), 623-630.

Kruger, J., & Schechter, J. (2017). The impact of music education on stress and anxiety in children. Journal of Music Therapy, 54(2), 147-162.

Rauscher, F. H., Shaw, G. L., & Ky, K. N. (1998). Music, cognition, and emotion: A review of the research. Psychology of Music, 26(1), 73-92.

Schlaug, G., Marchina, S., & Norton, A. (2005). From singing to speaking: Facilitating recovery from non-fluent aphasia using melodic intonation therapy. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1060, 243-254.

Learning to play a musical instrument is a journey filled with excitement, challenges, and, most importantly, patience. For children embarking on this adventure, the concept of patience might seem elusive amidst their eagerness to master the instrument quickly. However, understanding the importance of patience in this process is essential for both parents and educators alike.

Patience serves as the cornerstone of a child’s musical development, fostering a positive and enriching learning experience. Rather than focusing solely on achieving immediate results, cultivating patience allows children to embrace the journey of learning an instrument, nurturing their creativity, and building a lifelong passion for music.

One of the key aspects of fostering patience in children learning a new instrument is encouraging them to “play” rather than “practice.” This subtle shift in language can have a profound impact on a child’s perception of the learning process. By framing their musical exploration as play, children are invited to approach the instrument with curiosity, imagination, and a sense of freedom. This mindset shift empowers children to explore the instrument at their own pace, experiment with different sounds, and express themselves creatively without the pressure of perfection.

Here are some practical tips for suggesting children to “play” rather than “practice” when learning a new instrument:

  1. Create a Playful Environment: Set the stage for musical exploration by creating a playful and supportive environment. Encourage children to view their instrument as a tool for creative expression rather than a daunting challenge.
  2. Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities: Help children understand that making mistakes is an integral part of the learning process. Encourage them to embrace their mistakes, learn from them, and use them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
  3. Encourage Creativity: Foster a spirit of creativity by encouraging children to experiment with the sounds and techniques of their instrument. Provide them with opportunities to improvise, compose their own melodies, and explore different genres of music.
  4. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection: Shift the focus from achieving perfection to celebrating progress. Recognize and celebrate each small milestone along the way, whether it’s mastering a new chord, playing a simple melody, or improvising a short tune.
  5. Be Patient and Supportive: Above all, be patient and supportive throughout the learning process. Encourage children to enjoy the journey of learning an instrument and reassure them that progress takes time.

By encouraging children to “play” rather than “practice,” we empower them to take ownership of their musical journey, make it their own, and develop a lifelong love for music. Through patience, encouragement, and a playful approach, we can nurture the next generation of musicians and inspire them to unlock their full potential.

Introduction:

In the symphony of a child’s development, music education plays a pivotal role, harmonizing cognitive, emotional, and social growth. As we delve into the orchestration of academic studies, it becomes evident that the influence of music on young minds goes far beyond the notes on a page. Let’s explore the symphonic journey of why music education is not merely a supplemental class but an essential element in the composition of a child’s holistic learning experience.

The Cognitive Crescendo:

Research from renowned institutions such as Harvard and Johns Hopkins has been tuning into the cognitive benefits of music education for years. The brain, akin to a musical instrument, undergoes a transformative tune-up when exposed to the intricacies of music. Studies suggest that children engaged in music education demonstrate enhanced cognitive skills, including improved memory, attention span, and problem-solving abilities.

One notable study, conducted at the University of California, found that children involved in music education showed accelerated development in the areas of language processing and mathematical reasoning. The rhythm and patterns inherent in music seem to create a neural symphony, fine-tuning the brain for more efficient cognitive processing.

The Emotional Overture:

Beyond the realms of academia, music education orchestrates a powerful emotional overture in the lives of children. It serves as a melodic refuge, providing an outlet for self-expression and emotional regulation. Music becomes the soundtrack to a child’s emotional journey, helping them navigate the complex tapestry of feelings.

A study published in the Journal of Research in Music Education discovered that children engaged in music education exhibited higher levels of empathy and emotional intelligence. The collaborative nature of playing in an ensemble cultivates a sense of camaraderie, teaching children the art of listening and responding to the emotions conveyed through music.

The Social Symphony:

In the grand performance of life, the ability to collaborate and communicate is key. Music education, with its emphasis on ensemble playing and group dynamics, becomes the rehearsal ground for these essential social skills. You will find resonance in the transformative power of music education to tip the scales in favor of positive social development.

Research from the National Association for Music Education highlights the social benefits of music education, noting that children engaged in musical activities develop a strong sense of teamwork, discipline, and leadership. The shared pursuit of musical excellence cultivates a sense of belonging, transforming classrooms into harmonious communities.

Conclusion:

In the symphony of a child’s education, music is not merely an optional chord but a fundamental note that resonates across the cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions. Let us acknowledge that the true crescendo of a child’s potential is orchestrated by the transformative power of music education. It’s not just about creating musicians; it is about sculpting minds that resonate with the harmonies of lifelong learning and emotional intelligence. The importance of music education, when understood in this comprehensive light, becomes a powerful testament to the enduring melody that shapes the future of our young minds.

As the holiday season approaches, finding the perfect gift for your young guitar player can be challenging. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 holiday gifts based on consumer and expert reviews.

1. Music lessons:

Music lessons provide a unique and lasting experience that fosters creativity, skill-building, and personal growth. Lessons can ignite, or re-ignite passion and help beginners start their creative musical journey. Additionally, music lessons offer a chance to connect to a mentor and join a community, making a thoughtful and engaging gift!

www.freewaymusic.net

2. PRS Headstock Tuner:

Stay in tune easily and in style with the PRS Clip-On Tuner.

https://www.simsmusic.com/prs-headstock-tuner.html

3. Ernie Ball Musician’s Tool Kit – Best Tool Kit:

Ernie Ball’s all in one tool kit is perfect for cleaning, maintaining and keeping your instrument in perfect playing condition. Change strings, set intonation, adjust the action, check string height and more. Tool kit includes Microfiber Polish Cloth, Wonder Wipes, Heavy Duty String Cutter, Peg Winder, 6-in-1 Screwdriver, Ruler, and durable Hex Wrench Set.

https://www.ernieball.com/guitar-accessories/guitar-instrument-care/tools

4. Caroline Guitar Co. Hawaiian Pizza pedal:

A bespoke artisanal blockchain of handcrafted tone, the sonic equivalent of a forbidden delicacy, all from just three knobs and the truth.

https://carolineguitar.com/product/hawaiian-pizza/

5. A new guitar from Sims Music

What young guitarist wouldn’t love a new guitar? Our partners at Sims Music have an incredible selection for every style and budget with an extremely friendly and knowledgable staff, there to help you make the best decision that will absolutely put a smile on your young guitar player’s face!

https://www.simsmusic.com/products/guitars/electric/

These gifts cater to different needs and skill levels, offering a well-rounded approach to learning and enjoying guitar playing. Whether it’s lessons, accessories, or a new guitar, your young guitarist is sure to be delighted with any of these thoughtful gifts.

Many artists evolve from their old styles as they mature in their music, oftentimes causing uproar within the fanbases. Popularity can stagnate or even decline when they change styles, even if it is for the better. The Front Bottoms are no strangers to this, but they push through and allow themselves to change as creators, and all of us avid listeners are grateful for it.

This New Jersey-born rock band is best known for their earlier works with heavy acoustic guitar, messy drums, and raw vocals that cemented Midwest emo into the musical zeitgeist. Since then, though, they’ve leaned more towards the indie scene, switching the acoustic guitar for an electric one and cleaning up the sound while keeping the same intricacies in their lyrics that always enticed people to listen closely.

Their newest album, You Are Who You Hang Out With, dropped last week, and it looks back into their previous styles with their first three singles released in anticipation. “Emotional” starts off the album with a bang, an eclectic indie-pop single that takes from their style from their previous album, In Sickness & In Flames. The next two, “Outlook” and “Punching Bag,” look back into their discography, the sound reminiscent of Talon of the Hawk and Back on Top, two albums that forged their style into the hearts of fans. These two songs talk about getting stuck in the past and using music as an escape.

The rest of the songs showcase the new sound first experimented with in Going Grey and developed with each consecutive album. The Front Bottoms distort the vocals to stay true to the shaky novelty of their earliest songs and keep the same vibes they had before: happy sound, sad lyrics.

You Are Who You Hang Out With is a great addition to The Front Bottoms’ extensive discography, paying respect to their beloved past works while looking forward to newer, better things. It perfectly encapsulates the struggle of growing out an important phase of your life despite understanding it’s for the better because there are some things better left in the past and revisited on occasion rather than becoming stuck in the past with what’s familiar and comfortable. With this powerhouse of an album, The Front Bottoms is only going up from here, as they always have been.

You can listen to You Are Who You Hang Out With on Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere else you stream music.

Local bands have more opportunities to expand upon their music than larger, established musicians. No record labels means nobody’s holding them back. The wandering between college town bars gives them room to experiment with instruments, lyrics, and the way their music is found and consumed. 

Clay Dixon and the Piccadillies, a Floridian folk band, takes advantage of their tight-knit notoriety to create a compelling narrative freely and without fear. They are storytellers first, musicians second, and both skills are tied together lovingly in their latest EP, “Walking Uphill with Seedy Beady.”

This immersive EP follows the titular Seedy Beady (who’s just the singer with a chipper Scottish accent) as they guide the listener through an intentionally disjointed story. It is a quiet but epic tale presented to the band’s audience as a ‘lost media’ that was discovered in a thrifted jacket, adding a layer of mystery to the EP.

Most musicians would tease an album with the drop of a single here and there. Their intent is transparent: listen to their songs, and eagerly await the upcoming album. The Piccadillies, however, push past that and envelope each song with history. The experience extends beyond the album. 

There are not many other bands who can boast about well-written limericks on their discography, or the intrigue surrounding the story being told from the pocket of a corduroy jacket. The Piccadillies maintain complete creative control with this niche take. Sometimes they sing, sometimes they speak directly to the listener while the instrumental plays in the background. Most times, it’s a bit of both. 

 “Wasp’s Nest Limerick” is a contemplation on limericks, their simple structure, and the possibilities that lie within writing without the ambition to impress but simply to create, all over a plucky banjo. Regarding “Guessing Limerick” as its partner song neatly ties together the as it’s written entirely of limerick stanzas.

The Piccadillies take a type of poetry hardly taken seriously and reshape it into something worthy of song-form. They experiment with lyrics and tone, though mostly maintain the airy tone established in the first track. Each song has the crackle of static over it, aging it and adding to the lyric’s otherworldliness. Despite the unique structure, the singer grounds you, taking you by the hand to guide you through this world.

Not every song is an actual song. “unlisted_track” is so eerie with its electronic buildup it feels out of place among the other songs. However, this is another way the band goes against tradition—they take your expectations and twist them on their head to bring you a piano-backed poem overloaded with lore. 

“Walking Uphill with Seedy Beady” is imbued with passion, not just for music but for storytelling in any form. If they were internationally acclaimed, The Piccadillies would likely be trapped by contracts and expectations, but the reputation of a local band is ever changing. They easily float along the surface of popularity, with a following to appreciate and support their art, but still remaining small enough to have the freedom to make something as immersive as this EP. 

On St. Patrick’s Day, the streets were flooded with drinks and joyous laughter as dozens of South Carolinians pub-crawled their way to Five Point’s annual festival. Many folk were excited, as there’s nothing better way to celebrate the green-clad holiday than with a few marathons, some banging music, and plenty of drinks to go around.

Though the holiday is a celebration of Ireland’s rich heritage (and let’s be honest, an excuse to party in the daytime) downtown Columbia’s heart eagerly laps up any chance it gets to celebrate all those who make the community what it is, Irish or not.

The day began early with a 10k marathon, slowing down to a 5k, then a mile family fun run. Clear skies, though a slight chill. Just the perfect weather for a run, then a refreshing glass of water at the finish line. The Musical Mile, a fun moniker for our St. Paddy’s Parade, cut through the city, a trail of cheery faces following as Fort Jackson’s Army Band led the battlefront with their musical expertise. 

This year’s music event thrummed with unabashed talent, starting strong with headliner Hippo Campus, an indie-rock powerhouse who’s recently begun dipping their toes into the country genre. Though they were a crowd favorite, that’s not to discredit Nashville native’s Moon Taxi, country singer Nate Smith, and Atlanta’s very own Drivin N Cryin. Each headliner brought a strength and energy to the all-day festivities that left everyone dizzy with glee and post-concert jitters. 

The supporting bands, both from far away lands (Florida) and those born and raised, follow the openers with style that rocked the earth in a way only indie artists can do. A few honorable mentions, as they were all too spectacular to fit into one list: the funky Flipturn, soulful The Brook & The Bluff, the synth-driven Doom Flamingo, and Columbia’s very own Rex Darling.

It’s not a true festival without turkey legs and funnel cakes, which flowed through the streets as sweetly and swiftly as the pints. Food vendors offered their delicacies at every corner of the city, the barbeque sweet and the people even sweeter. Not only was there food and music to enjoy, but wall climbing and karaoke in case you wanted to add a solo of yours to the setlist.

Five Points 41st year of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day was memorable, rich in activity and in memory-making, and there is nowhere to go next year but up, up, up. 

It was six years ago today when I started SceneSC.com. At the time I was completely disconnected from any music scene there might have been other than being a fan of some of our local artists. I knew I wanted to be more involved, and support these artists, but I wasn’t sure how, so I started a website, started going to shows and began shooting videos and snapping pictures. At the time I realized there were no other outlets online to read about South Carolina music, and no magazines dedicated to covering the music scene here other than the alt-weeklies like Free Times and Charleston City Paper. So I thought, why not start an online outlet to write about some of the great bands from South Carolina?

In the six years since we’ve started SceneSC many other outlets have popped up, and those are ones I’d like to bring light to today. So much has changed and it’s been incredible to watch new relationships form and new talented musicians grow and for some go on to fame. The key to any music scene is embracing these relationships and to be involved as much as you can. For so many years it was hard to find ways to get involved, but now other bands and all of these media outlets are just an email away. And always remember, media outlets are out there looking for new artists and bands are all looking to connect with one another.

Knowledge is power, so here are some local media outlets to become familiar with and check out to see what’s going on in the South Carolina music scene:
SceneSC Hey! That’s us. We cover music and happenings all over the state, and we love to cover great bands coming through.

SC Music Guide Another great website covering SC music. They focus on showcasing the talent within our state and a great job of it.

Metronome Charleston If you’re looking for the next big band from Charleston, SC, Metronome is the place to read about them first. They’ve got their finger on the pulse of the Holy City’s music scene.

Stereofly A wonderful monthly zine covering music from the Southeast. They also host lots of shows in Columbia.
Charleston City Paper and Free Times Both of these outlets work hard to stay on top of what’s happening in our music scene, and are must reads if you want to stay connected.

I was in the Vista to grab a bite to eat at Liberty just before heading over to see Bruno Mars play at the Colonial Center, when out of the corner of my eye I caught a piano on the sidewalk! I was kind of taken back. It was just on the corner of Gervais across from The Blue Marlin. There was a young man playing piano, and another guy playing guitar. They were just singing and playing. I thought myself, “buskers…cool. I’m so impressed they actually brought an upright piano out here”. Then, I carried on with my evening.

Just before going home later that night, I swung by the satisfy my late night craving of Pita Pit, and there it was again. I saw another upright piano positioned right next to Starbucks in Five Points. I thought to myself, “Surely this isn’t the same people. I mean why would they lug a piano from The Visa to Five Points”. There was yet another small pocket of musicians huddled around the piano jamming. I continued to my grilled chicken pita feeling somewhat befuddled, yet digging the vibe that it brought to my city.

Yesterday I stumbled on this:
Five Things You Need to Know in the South Right Now

Then, it all made sense! There apparently will be 10 pianos scattered throughout the city for the month of June. The organization putting this on is One Columbia. They also plan to have a piano concert. Check out their website, and what they are all about! Bravo to One Columbia, and to Columbia as a whole. I love seeing culture sparked in my home town. Everyone keep up the good work!

As a person who is passionate about my local community, music scene, and culture, I take notice when others are taking action. Today I am applauding the efforts of three organizations.

The Township Auditorium

The Township is one of Columbia’s oldest and most storied venues. The likes of Elvis and Prince have graced its stage. In recent history, they have had an issue of not bringing in relevant and exciting acts; however, they are currently bringing in great act after great act. The most recent acts include: Grace Potter, Amos Lee, Band of Horses, John Legend, and more. Often, I would have to travel to Charlotte or Charleston to catch one of these shows. The guys at Township now are doing a great job! Keep it up guys!

The Drum Mafia

Brian Geiger has done an awesome job organizing his drum mafia in Columbia! Drummers, both semi-pro and enthusiasts, meet once a month with a guest artist to increase their knowledge. The clinic is followed by an open jam session. This gathering is furthering the education of drummers in our scene and knitting our local musicians together more tightly. More importantly, great music scenes must have a foundation of musicians that are working for a common goal to change the culture. Way to go, Brian! Keep it up!

Sims Music

Sims Music has been churning out great music clinics lately, from owner Jerry Sims on chord melody, all the way to the likes of powerhouse drummer Aaron Spears, who will be appearing at Sims later this month. Justin Sims has done an awesome job reaching out to Freeway Music and other local organizations, as well. These are the kinds of things that will help propel us to the next level. Great job to the Sims guys! Make sure you catch one of their clinics, and while you are there, buy something from this locally owned music store.

Freeway Music has a vision of our town’s becoming a thriving hub for music, causing musicians to move or stay here, cultivating their music careers. Our combined efforts will certainly make this vision a reality. The future of our music scene is bright!

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