Customer Reviews

Good Music, Brighter Children: Simple and Practical Ideas to Help Transform Your Child's Life Through the Power of Music

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Parents, teachers, school administrators and board members, state and federal legislators, and the community at large, MUST read this book if we, as a nation, are to find the answers to the questions, Why aren't our students learning?; and How do we prepare them to meet the intellectual and creative workplace challenges of the new millennium? Ms. Habermeyer's work clearly and convincingly answers these questions. Through her exhaustive research of scientific studies connecting music and learning, and of successful schools where music and art are an integrated part of the curricula, she provides us with the methods and the motivation to revive and revitalize, not only schools that fall short of academic excellence, but all schools. Unlike books that inspire but do not deliver the "how-to", GOOD MUSIC, BRIGHTER CHILDREN, will not disappoint you. Parents and teachers will find the extensive resource section, alone, and invaluable guide for enriching children's lives and education through music.

This book is a wealth of information. The author cites the latest research in brain development and music education. She also includes anecdotes from the lives of famous and not-so-famous musicians. All sources are cited. Each chapter has an average of 20 endnotes. There is good, practical advice for parents & teachers alike as well as for advocates of any area of the arts. It covers both the importance of music for babies & young children as well as how the lack of study in the arts is adversely affecting creativity in the business world. Specific recommendations for music, books, videos, internet sites are also given.

I was surprised at the wealth of powerful information in this book (257 pages text + 44 pages of resources, 15 pages of endnotes, and a 20 page index). If every school board member were to read this book, music and art in the schools would never be threatened by budget constraints.

The author has done her homework and delivers a practical guide, clearly written in a very readable and enjoyable style. Thankfully free of academic cant or pyschobabble, "Good Music, Brighter Children" has page after page of facts and solutions that real parents with real children can use. The scholarship is impeccable, the bibliography exhaustive; Ms. Habermeyer has quite simply created a gold standard reference work in the warp-speed expanding field of learning dynamics.

To any parent who has struggled to get a child to practice any musical instrument, the chapter on practicing (chapter 5) is alone worth the price of Good Music Brighter Children. The book offers not only great encouragement to parents, but it contains many useful suggestions on helping the child or teen over those "I-want-to-quit" hurdles.

This book backs up with solid research the position that music affects many aspects of development. Most interesting and readable are the anecdotes of how exposure to music has affected individuals and their families. This is not a book that will guide you in making a prodigy of your child. Its position is that music is a vital component of everyone's development.

Many how-to books make grand claims with steps to follow that are impractical at best and usually unreachable by the average reader. Good Music Brighter Children is loaded with realistic suggestions for incorporating music into your child's (and your) life. Whether you take one or several of these suggestions, you're bound to see benefits in many areas of your family's life. From teaching values through music to exposing your kids to music on a budget, just about anyone can successfully apply these ideas to their own situation. This is a must-have book for parents concerned about their child's education and development.

Having just read this authoritative and well-written book, I would recommend it to anyone and everyone who either has a child, intends to have a child, or teaches children. From her vast amount of research, Ms. Habermeyer has compiled what would take years of individual study on the part of the reader, into a concisely-written and easily understood manuscript. It is packed with resources and ideas, motivational to say the least. Would make a great textbook.

I purchased this book when my daughter was a baby. I enjoyed reading it word for word my first time through and have referred to it many times since. Although music has always been enjoyed by us, this book elevated music education in importance for my family. We became involved in wonderful music programs as a result. I am grateful to the author. Her book has greatly enriched our lives.

Good Music Brighter Children is a marvelous book filled with creative ideas and practical suggestions by the author on how to integrate music, learning, and enjoyment in childrens' lives. Habermeyer's extensive and documented research serves as a useful tool for any parent of a young child. The book also will inspire adults to "start practicing their musical instruments again" which sets a wonderful example for children.

I was kind of surprised other people liked this book so much. I didn't find it useful at all. I especially don't recommend it if you are looking for any ideas to help with a special needs child. It doesn't even touch on that. There are a lot of suggestions about things you can do with your children to increase their music appreciation. The author suggests taking your child to the symphony or the opera, but dress them in comfortable clothes... Just not too helpful at all. It also has lots of lists making recommendations as to music your kids can listen to. I took a one-day class on music and child development last year and there is so much good information that this author doesn't include. If you're looking for a good book on this subject, look into Don Campbell's book on the Mozart Effect for kids. I wish I hadn't bought this one.