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10 • Exploring the Arts • News Graphic & Daily News • April 2022 Music enriches people's lives in myriad ways. Age is of no consideration when it comes to benefi tting from and appreciating music, but it seems that young people in particular have a lot to gain from music education. According to the New England Board of Higher Education, various studies have found that consistent music education can improve vocabulary and reading comprehension skills. In addition, the National Association for Music Education says that research has found a signifi cant relationship between arts participation at school and academic success. Parents who want their children to reap the benefi ts of being involved with music can try the following strategies aimed at fostering a love of music in young people. ■ Turn the television off and turn music on. Exposing youngsters to music is one of the simplest and most eff ective ways to get them to embrace it. For example, in lieu of turning on the television while preparing meals, parents can play music instead. Let youngsters pick their own songs or mix it up by including some of mom and dad's favorites as well. Such exposure can be incredibly valuable for youngsters. In fact, a 2016 study from researchers at the University of Southern California found that musical experiences in childhood accelerate brain development. Music is especially eff ective at helping children in language acquisition and reading. ■ Replay kids' favorite songs. Another way to build kids' enthusiasm for music is to replay some of their favorite songs. While mom and dad may cringe at the prospect of hearing "Baby Shark" several times in a row, they should take note of how enthusiastic their kids become when hearing a favorite song. And that enthusiasm can benefi t their language skills as they listen closely to the lyrics in an eff ort to memorize the words. Youngsters may not be so receptive if they don't like what they're hearing. ■ Dance to music. Kids are bundles of energy, and dancing is a fun way for them to expend some of that energy. Dancing also provides a great reason to play music. Physical activity set to music can help kids burn off some extra energy as they develop their brains, making dance sessions a win-win for both parents and children. ■ Embrace opportunities to see live music. Kids are often captivated by seeing musicians perform in person. When possible, take youngsters to concerts, local music festivals and/or restaurants that showcase local musicians. Such excursions may prompt youngsters to want to learn how to play, which can provide a host of additional benefi ts, even for especially young children. In fact, a 1996 study published in Nature found that fi rst grade students who took part in music classes during art study programs experienced marked improvement in reading and math profi ciency. Music enriches people's lives in various ways, and exposure to music at a young age can be especially valuable to children. How to foster a love of music in children Many people aspire to write a novel. Sitting down to write a novel is a dream shared by writers and non-writers alike, and the digital age has made it possible for writers of all backgrounds to get their works out there. Forbes indicates there are somewhere between 600,000 and one million books published every year in the United States alone. Many novels are written but never see the light of day. Still, others are published and never make it out of obscurity. Writing a novel requires dedication and, for many writers, dealing with the frustration that often comes with getting a story out of your head and onto a page. These guidelines may help budding authors pen the next great novel. ■ Find an idea with staying power. Many popular novels follow similar themes and create interest through the promise of confl ict or dramatic tension. Books that can slide into the existing market and appeal to a defi ned audience may be more well-received than novels that try to break the mold. ■ Set goals. In order to publish and sell a novel, you fi rst have to produce a fi nished product. Develop a process that works for you. Create an outline of the story to keep ideas on track and organized. Create a calendar that establishes daily writing goals. Write at the same time each day for a specifi c length to make writing an automatic task. ■ Consider an agent. Many publishers will not look at a novel unless it is presented through an agent. If you feel your novel has potential, fi nd an agent who can help market your story to various publishers. ■ Establish a platform. A platform can create buzz about your novel. Employ social media and local newspapers to drum up interest in your work. A platform is essential if you plan to self-publish. ■ Get an editor. The writing resource Now Novel advises aspiring writers to hire an editor who has experience and can turn your novel into the best possible version of itself. A good editor will have knowledge of the publishing industry and understand what major publishers look for. These are some initial steps that can help writers transform their ideas into manuscripts. Strategies to bring a novel to life

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