The academy will provide weekly instruction to improve those musicians already participating in these events, as well as to new students who would like to become more active in the musical events of Emporia and neighboring communities. Study of the arts and particularly of music have proved invaluable to cognitive and emotional growth, as many recent research projects have shown. The study of music has been proven to increase the number of neural pathways in the brain, and that intelligence is increased when a child learns to play a musical instrument. The academy's professional faculty will offer musical instruction to students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Its faculty also will provide instruction in basic musical, performing, and compositional skill development.
Courses range from two semesters to four weeks depending on the needs of the student.
The Suzuki program offers group lessons in addition to individual lessons, and academy-wide recitals will provide a supportive performance environment for all participants. While learning music helps students with other school subjects, it also encourages students' development in ways that no other subject can, Murphy said. In addition to its own subject skills, music education actually requires the brain to work more efficiently in all areas of thinking. Murphy said that while the academy is new to the university, the concept is not a new one. Community based arts training is a long standing tradition in America, and already is represented in workshops by the Emporia Arts Council as well as the strong local and area secondary school programs, she said.