What is Music and the Brain?
Music and the Brain (MATB) is a foundational school-day music program integrating musicianship and piano learning as a pathway to lifelong skills for all grades. We are a national program with 28 years of expertise in delivering cross-curricular general music lessons and whole-class piano instruction (K-12).
MATB provides partner schools:
Music and the Brain is a program of the nonprofit Building for the Arts.
A multiyear evaluation of MATB by Columbia University’s Center for Arts Education Research shows improved fine motor, social-emotional, and academic skills, providing educators and students anytime, anyplace access.
Who teaches Music and the Brain?
Music and the Brain is taught by the partner school music teacher(s) during the school day. Partner school music teachers must complete initial MATB training with our staff before accessing their Music and the Brain web platform account and lesson materials. They also receive ongoing professional development resources.
How does Music and the Brain support teachers? What support is offered to partner teachers beyond the curriculum materials?
Along with providing our general music curriculum materials, Music and the Brain delivers thorough professional development workshops for our partner school music teachers. We share best practices from over 28 years of experience from six hundred+ music teachers who have taught our curriculum at schools across different communities.
When logistically possible and mutually agreed upon, Music and the Brain team members can make in-person visits to support partner school music teachers, particularly in the first few years of partnerships when support is most critical.
How can I bring Music and the Brain to my school?
Teachers and administrators can apply for a partnership with our program here. Parents who are interested in Music and the Brain should encourage principals, school arts administrators, and music teachers at their child’s/children’s school to pursue a partnership with MATB.
How often do students receive Music and the Brain lessons?
Students in participating classes should receive Music and the Brain lessons at least once a week during the entirety of the school year. We recommend that students ideally have Music and the Brain classes twice weekly whenever possible.
Where does Music and the Brain operate?
Music and the Brain partners with schools nationwide. The cities where Music and the Brain has the strongest presence include New York City, Philadelphia, Newark, New Orleans, Ferguson (MO), Hudson Valley (NY), Miami-Dade County, and Broward County (FL) public schools. Submit a partner school application to bring Music and the Brain to your city!
Can Music and the Brain supply schools with a music teacher?
No, schools must already have or hire a qualified music teacher to implement Music and the Brain lessons. If we have relationships with music teachers in your area, we can circulate information about music teacher job opportunities.
Is there a cost for Music and the Brain?
There is a cost for Music and the Brain’s curriculum resources and materials. Based on availability, we work with funding partners to subsidize the cost for schools that meet specific funding requirements.
The initial partnership year requires the greatest investment when professional onboarding, physical and digital MATB teaching resources are fulfilled, along with keyboard lab equipment costs (as needed). Subsequent partnership years require significantly lower annual fees for educator and student accounts on our learning platform.
Please submit a partner school application to start partnership inquiries.
Do you offer discounts for multi-year partnerships?
Discounts can apply when school districts partner with Music and the Brain for multiple schools and/or multiple years. Please send the details of your inquiry to partnerships@musicandthebrain.org
Is the cost of the program per child, per school, or per teacher?
The cost of Music and the Brain is per school.
Can Music and the Brain be used with other music pedagogies?
Music and the Brain embraces many teaching methodologies. Teachers with varying levels of expertise in Kodaly, Dalcroze, Orff, and piano methods such as Bastien, Alfred, and others have taught our curriculum brilliantly.
To implement Music and the Brain, teachers should be comfortable teaching songs using a diatonic scale. Our approach to rhythmic training involves students building music literacy skills in an engaging way at all ages.
Do I need to be a pianist to teach Music and the Brain?
No! The majority of our music teachers are not pianists, so there is no requirement for expertise in piano. Music teachers should be comfortable reading music to teach this program effectively.
Is Music and the Brain available to middle or high schools?
Yes! Music and the Brain is a multi-year, scaffolded curriculum designed to grow with students as they progress in their music and piano skills. We have a growing number of middle and high school partner schools nationwide. Lesson pacing and activities will be different for older students and detailed in our training sessions.
Can students use the Music and the Brain piano books at home?
Piano books are granted to schools as a set for class use; however, participating teachers are able to distribute copies of Music and the Brain songs to send home with students.
Does Music and the Brain provide other instruments to partner schools?
The Music and the Brain curriculum is designed to teach music literacy through whole-class piano instruction. We do not provide other musical instruments to schools. Music teachers may blend MATB lessons with other instrument instruction (depending on their school’s resources).
Piano/keyboards were specifically selected for Music and the Brain for many reasons, including fine motor skill enhancement and practicality in the classroom setting.
Can Music and the Brain supply my school with keyboards without the curriculum?
Our primary goals include helping K-12 students develop critical skills by giving them a thoughtful, effective music curriculum and empowering music teachers with the tools to execute highly productive lessons. It is outside of our mission to supply instruments without our teacher-validated curriculum.
How are student accounts accessed, and what data is being given to Music and the Brain?
Student accounts are an option for partner schools to use for Google-managed email addresses. Music and the Brain collects no personal student data. Students access their accounts and student review lessons through our online learning platform and can submit assignments directly to their teacher’s account.
Is there an app that teachers have to download to access the Music and the Brain curricula?
Music and the Brain is completely web-based. No apps need to be downloaded.
Does Music and the Brain offer trials before purchase?
Prospective partners can request demo lessons by emailing partnerships@musicandthebrain.org
How can Music and the Brain partner teachers connect with one another?
Music and the Brain partner teachers connect via in-person workshops, webinars, as well as our private Music and the Brain Teachers Facebook group.
How does Music and the Brain share updates to the curricula?
Updates and other information are communicated directly via the homepage of the web platform.
What are Music and the Brain All-Stars?
Music and the Brain encourages our partner schools to submit “All-Star” students to receive recognition certificates for student video performance submissions. Music and the Brain team members will mail or, when possible, bring certificates for in-person presentation. Teachers record their students and submit their All Stars in the Spring, along with guardian permission forms.
How can I access more information about the research on the Music and the Brain program by Dr. Rob Horowitz/Columbia University’s Center for Arts Education Research?
To request more information about our research, please email lisala@musicandthebrain.org
Can a partner school use keyboards previously purchased by the school?
Established keyboard labs are perfect to use with Music and the Brain curriculum. You do not have to replace working keyboards that you already have.
How do teachers get technical support?
Partner teachers can connect directly with a Music and the Brain team member or program associate for any questions and support needed.
