Students are finding musical inspiration from shows like “Glee” and “The Sing-Off” and studies show that singing kids do better in school and are more diverse. Ninety percent of educators believe singing in a choir can keep some students engaged who might otherwise be lost, according a nationwide study.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution profiled Marist High School in Atlanta, which has caught “The Glee Effect” where stereotypes are being broken. A variety of students, from teens who play sports to more reserved teens, are participating in school choirs.
Thirty-one percent of kids between 8 and 18 say that movies like Disney’s “Camp Rock” and shows like “Glee” make them want to get involved in music making, according to a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive.
The benefits of teens singing also extend to school success. Sixty-four percent of parents whose children sing say their kids get all or mostly A’s in English and other language arts classes, according to the Chorus Impact Study conducted by Chorus America. Only 43 percent of parents with children who don't sing report the same high grades.
The study also found:
- 57 percent of children who sing improved in math.
- About 70 percent became more self-confident, had better memory skills and self-discipline.
Check out this teen singing group from NBC's "The Sing-Off:"