How Music Physically Changes Your Kid's Brain with Deborah Pratt | OpenEd

Most parents pull their kids out of music lessons the moment the "practice battles" start. It feels like a waste of money to pay for lessons when the kid isn't doing the work at home. But Deborah Pratt, founder of Southern Oregon School of Music, argues that this efficiency mindset is actually robbing children of the real ROI.In this episode, she shares the story of a student who spent 8 years "mediocrely" playing piano, guitar, and ukulele—only to discover at age 16 that he was a born bass player. Had he quit during the "low practice" years, he never would have found it. Deb reveals why the *environment* of music (the community, the brain development, the weekly touchpoint) matters more than the daily grind, and why the "Corpus Callosum" might be the best reason to keep paying for lessons even when your kid won't practice.

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**00:00** - Welcome & Deborah's Journey to Music Education

**02:06** - Southern Oregon School of Music's Grand Reopening

**03:21** - Why Parents Put Kids in Music (The Research)

**04:18** - The Trumpet Regret: When Quitting Is the Wrong Answer

**08:55** - Never Quit at the Frustration Point

**12:35** - Music & Brain Development: The Corpus Callosum

**26:31** - Piano as the Foundation Instrument

**34:01** - The Piano-to-Bass Discovery Journey

**38:20** - The Social Glue: Community Creates Persistence

**42:45** - Trial Lessons & Finding the Right Teacher

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## GUEST

**Deborah Pratt**Founder & Director, Southern Oregon School of MusicDeborah is a music educator with a Master's degree in Music Education and a bachelor's degree in Vocal Music Education. She spent nine years as a college instructor before founding and growing a Kinder Music program into a thriving music school with 172 students across multiple age groups and instruments. Her approach prioritizes persistence, community, and the neurological benefits of music education.