"Without music life would be a mistake."  - Friedrich Nietzsche

It is needless to say that music plays a great role in the child's education and development.

These are just a few out of many facts to prove the importance of musical education:

A study of 237 second-grade children involved with both piano keyboard training and innovative math software scored 27% higher on proportional math and fractions tests than students only using the math software.
- Amy Graziano, Matthew Peterson, and Gordon Shaw, Neurological Research 21, March 1999

Middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental music performances scored significantly higher than their non-band peers in standardized tests.
- University of Sarasota Study, Jeffrey Lynn Kluball; East Texas State University Study, Daryl Erick Trent

Schools, which fail to make music a core subject, are making a mistake, because it has advantages for the growing brain and would help all children, including those with dyslexia and autism.
- Professor Nina Kraus, neuroscientist

Lester B Pearson students are very lucky that the school principal Mme Dominique Brugniau is strongly supporting our music program.

All of our students from K to 8 are involved in music education.

They start to sing and play simple percussion instruments as early as in the kindergarten. They continue to develop their vocal and instrumental skills in grades 1, 2 and 3. Grade 4 and 5 students are very excited to begin playing “real musical instruments” such as recorders and ukuleles. From grade 6 and up until graduation our students are taking part in the school junior and senior bands. They can choose from flute, clarinet, saxophone, baritone, trombone or trumpet and develop their skills for three consecutive years. This year a brand new tuba became a nice addition to our band.

Parents may not appreciate the screeching of recorders or the squeaking of clarinets during the hours of practice at home but new evidence suggests music lessons help children improve their math and language skills. Scientists have discovered that “playing an instrument significantly enhances the brain's sensitivity to speech”. - Professor Nina Kraus, neuroscientist

Our students are proud to present their musical achievements at the school concerts, TDSB choral and band festivals.

We are very thankful to our parents' community for their continuing help and support. Running an instrumental program is very costly. With the help of the parent committee we have got a new PA system, an electrical keyboard, recorders for the recorder ensemble, and ukuleles.

We hope that LB Pearson's students will continue to enjoy our music program, which will help to develop their brain and soul, and hopefully bring more happiness and fun to their life.

Svetlana Polyanovsky,

Music teacher