Music Therapy as Non-Invasive Care for Dementia-Type Neurodegeneration: A Systematic Review (by William)

 Acknowledgements

The research conducted in this paper included fragments of personal experiences and passion regarding neurodegeneration. Special shoutout to Professor Smith and all my classmates in Music and the Mind for making this possible.

            Homo sapiens is an abnormally resilient species. Over hundreds of millenia, our ancestors have braved both calamity and conflict. In some ways, however, humans have yet to come to terms with the never-ending natural cycle of aging. Following the trends of development and globalization over the past century, this statement validates itself in a variety of manifestations. With aging populations worldwide and impending demographic crises in countries such as South Korea and even the United States, the focus of medicine has increasingly pivoted toward the sinister maladies affecting older people. One of the most common yet least understood of these maladies is dementia-type neurodegeneration (Wyss-Coray, 2016).

            Dementia-type neurodegeneration is a family of neurological disorders which causes cognitive impairment from the chronic wasting of neuronal networks in the central nervous system, oftentimes from aggregation of tau isoforms and amyloid-beta plaques. The prevalent crown jewel of this malady family is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), though the definition extends to frontotemporal (FTD) and vascular dementias. The telltale signs of dementia-type neurodegeneration include but are not limited to: memory loss, behavioral alterations, and impaired communication (Perna et al., 2023). For the purposes of this systematic review, dementia-type neurodegeneration should be defined and treated distinctly from neurodegenerative movement disorders including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s; discussion of treatments and later music therapy will focus primarily on Alzheimer’s disease. While dementia typically involves a host of familial and environmental influences, the strongest risk factor for dementia-type diseases by far is age. The association between neurodegeneration and age is so enduring that 349.2 million patients struggle with neurodegenerative disorders, with more than 16% of cases characterized as AD (Gadhave et al., 2024). Zooming in on the United States, Americans above the age of 55 have a 42% risk of developing dementia. As the US population ages along with its global counterparts, the prevalence of dementia is expected to double by 2060 (Fang et al., 2025). While there is no cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, there have been promising treatments tackling the cellular and molecular basis of neurodegeneration, which will be discussed in the next section.

            One of the main reasons why there is yet to be a definitive therapy or treatment for dementia-type neurodegeneration is because there is no true consensus on the progression of such diseases. The human brain along with the rest of the central nervous system may be considered as one of the “final frontiers”; despite progress, there is still much to be learned about neurodegenerative diseases, analogous to space and the depths of the ocean. Back in the 1980s, scientists theorized that Alzheimer-type dementia was caused by plummeting concentration of acetylcholine (AcH), one of the most significant neurochemical neurotransmitters, in the synaptic cleft of neurons. A landmark 1981 clinical study indicated that the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme tasked with the breakdown of acetylcholine, dramatically improved the memory and cognitive function of Alzheimer’s patients (Summers et al., 1981). This opened a new Pandora’s Box in neuropharmacology, and cholinesterase inhibitors were soon utilized to provide relief from the advanced symptoms exhibited in Alzheimer’s patients. In recent years, newfound knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis has paradoxically elongated and complicated the trajectory toward new treatments. As a first focal point, cellular and molecular analysis formulated new theories of the mechanics of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the prevailing theories involves the aggregation of amyloid–beta plaques, which in turn converts functional tau proteins into toxic tau tangles (Bloom, 2014). Amyloid plaques and toxic tau tangles inhibit the transport of nutrients and signals within neurons, ultimately resulting in the signature cognitive impairment and memory loss associated with dementia. In the normal human brain, both amyloid-beta and tau exist in non-pathological conformations; the central enigma lies in how and why the conversion between benign and calamitous forms happens. Understanding tau-tangles and amyloid plaques has given neurologists more hope for possible comprehensive treatments, such as specific anti-tau and anti-amyloid antibodies (Esquer et al., 2023). A final factor contributing to the development of Alzheimer’s disease is the activity of microglial cells, which function as the immune system unique to nervous tissue. Studies have established strong correlations between neuroinflammation caused by hyperactive microglia and the progression of late-stage AD, the effect of which circles back around to microglia, which engulf toxic-tau-overrun neurons (Sanchez-Mejias, 2016). A host of variables and overlapping theories contribute to the currently accepted perspective on AD from the American Psychological Association and the American Neurological Association, which have yet to be validated and agreed upon by the wider scientific community.

Even as new treatments are in the development pipeline, the second focal point is that there is yet to be a therapeutic drug targeting all physiological aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors appeared to improve patients’ cognitive function starting in the 1980s, but more recent studies suggest they may also be highly toxic to the liver (Malik et al., 2022). Similar problems arise with tau- and amyloid-specific antibodies; at high concentrations, such antibodies become neurotoxic. The review conducted by Esquer et al. examined the treatment effect of anti-tau antibodies, but acknowledged the effect’s clinical irrelevance along with a majority of trials having failed (Esquer et al., 2023). Another ray of hope shines from the Kessler lab at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, currently investigating the role of upstream proteins including Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) on regeneration of nervous tissue (the author of this paper works as an undergraduate researcher in the Kessler Lab). Inhibiting BMP activity with a protein known as Noggin had a significant effect on mouse models affected by neurodegenerative disease. Noggin treatment accelerated neurogenesis, while reducing tau pathology and associated neuronal death (Affaneh et al., 2024). However promising Noggin may be, it has only been tested in mice and must be delivered across the blood-brain barrier without direct injection, meaning it will take years before a modulated Noggin drug is approved by the FDA. Given that current treatments and pharmacological interventions cause adverse side effects and target only few of many factors in the rise of dementia-type neurodegenerative disorders, non-invasive care to improve patients’ qualities of life may well be the better option for now. Cognitive interventions falling into the categories of training, stimulation, and rehabilitation were found to produce small yet consistent effects for aging patients, both healthy and cognitively impaired (Alves et al., 2013). Music therapy, a combination of these cognitive interventions, has been applied to movement disorders and mental health conditions over the past few decades, raising the question of whether it could alleviate the symptoms of dementia.

Mankind’s organic relationship with music has hardly diminished since its origins in prehistoric civilizations, even as genres and tastes have rapidly evolved. While even the most influential and convincing studies on music therapy have drawn crowds of skeptics, a collection of preserved memories and archaeological evidence suggests music in Ancient Greece and Medieval Byzantium was systematically employed to heal patients and modulate moods (Thaut, 2015). As scientific revolutions of the 19th and 20th centuries took root, medicine began to shift away from alternative care and towards the development of life-saving, physiology-altering drugs. The ongoing struggle against dementia-type neurodegenerative diseases thus begs the question: could “primitive” yet potent music therapy function as an effective bulwark against the worst manifestations and symptoms?

In his book, I Heard There Was a Secret Chord, Daniel Levitin describes music as the universal language of man, with its own wonderfully complex syntax. As music carries its own melody, meter, and structure, each composition possesses its own unique fingerprint. A nostalgic piano rock ballad by Billy Joel likely has a very different effect on listeners than one of Mozart’s famous arias. Music therapy observes and adjusts its forms entirely based on its effect, and has been applied in an increasing amount of clinical studies over the past two decades (Li et al., 2021). Music therapy is rooted in the activation of the brain due to the multisensory stimuli it provides. Specifically, scientists studying dementia and Alzheimer’s are intrigued by music therapy’s capabilities of invoking emotions and neuronal network activation (Zaatar et al., 2023).  The benefits of neuronal network activation can be best explored by analyzing the effect of music therapy on specific conditions endemic to Alzheimer’s patients, including but not limited to: memory loss, cognitive impairment, hormonal imbalance, and decline in social-emotional well-being.

            The effects of music therapy on patients with Alzheimer’s disease have been measured on several different criteria and impacted symptoms. One of the most significant symptoms as aforementioned is the progressive loss of memory. Here, music seems to be an exception to the hallmark confusion and impermeable memory fog of Alzheimer’s, as depicted in Joseph Jebelli’s book, In Pursuit of Memory. Physiological reviews suggest this is the result of a slower rate of neurodegeneration in the caudal anterior cingulate, responsible for musical processing and consolidation (Jacobsen et al., 2015). Amyloid-beta and toxic tau tangles, the lurking pathologies of Alzheimer’s and dementia, slowly suffocate the human brain yet spare music memory regions of cortical atrophy until later stages. In a 2012 study conducted by the researchers at Queen’s University in Canada, subjects were separated into groups by dementia severity and age. Among tests such as the Distorted Tune Test and Familiarity Decision Test, Alzheimer’s patients seemed to possess an intact semantic musical memory. Even in moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s groups, study participants were able to recognize familiar lyrics and melodies (Cuddy et al., 2012). The study accounted for the possible confounding variable of prior musical experience, finding that music experience has no significant impact on cognition between the groups. Whether or not music therapy may help AD patients recollect episodic memories (events and people associated with the music played, for instance a Sinatra recording from the ‘50s) is still unclear, but the retention of semantic memory serves as the foundation for non-invasive care. This finding is amazingly compounded by a wide range of real world examples: videos from memory care centers exhibit patients who cannot remember their spouses, yet are capable of singing along with their favorite musical tracks.

It’s not just musical memory, however, that is bolstered by musical therapy. In 2007, a group of Italian biologists coined the Vivaldi effect after conducting a study on a group of senior citizens. The Vivaldi effect is described as the improvement in cognitive performance (measured by Digit Span and Word Fluency tests) associated with administration of “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Not only were the senior citizens able to comprehend the experimenters’ tasks just as effectively, the means scores of control and treatment groups differed by as much as a point in the digit span test and a staggering 6 points in the word fluency test (Mammarella et al., 2007). The central goal of both tests was to assess the rapid recall and superficial memory of participants, suggesting that music may provide an alternative pathway for restoring or (at the very least) retaining reminiscences. As a more recent example, a nursing home in Turkey was the subject of a controlled music therapy trial. The nurses and associated researchers separated a group of 30 Alzheimer’s patients into even control and therapy treatment groups. Analysis by ANOVA and t-tests revealed that the treatment group enjoyed a large positive effect in terms of Standard Mini-Mental State Examinations (SMMSE) scores and adaptation level after five weeks of biweekly music therapy (Kayaaslan & Lӧs, 2025). It is worth noting, however, that this journal article doesn’t specify how the music was chosen, or whether tracks were personalized for different patients. It also doesn’t cover accessory effects of music, instead focusing only on cognition and failing to consider hormonal dynamics, a topic explored by the next two studies in this review.

            Apart from improving memory and cognition, different styles of music are also hormonal stimulants. The human endocrine system is both diverse and complex, with increasing connections being drawn to the nervous system. One of the simplest examples is that of the pituitary gland: nestled in the human brain, it produces the physiological foundation of pleasure and development. The coupling of spontaneous nervous impulses with long-term hormonal signals has long served the subject of neurologists’ fascinations. In the human body, the steroid hormones testosterone and estrogen production peak during adolescent puberty, and gradually decline with aging. While their commonly-acknowledged functions relate to sexual development and maturity, both hormones also exhibit neuroprotective properties (Vest & Pike, 2012). A team of Japanese scientists based in Nara attempted to explore the connection between testosterone and estrogen and neurodegeneration, with a clinical focus on music therapy. This study defined music therapy as having both a music stimulation component and a human connection component, as executed by a music therapist. The music therapy group in particular showed a spike in both estrogen and testosterone levels, exhibiting a significant increase as compared to the control and music-only groups (Toyoshima et al., 2012). Thinking about this retrospectively, music therapy composed of patient-specific music and interaction with the music therapist has the potential to turn back the hands of time and rejuvenate brain physiology and structure. Perhaps, music therapy and its hormonal effects are a hidden wellspring of neuro-cognitive youth. The success of the above study lends extra cause to music therapy, as it can achieve the same ends as hormone replacement therapy without running the risk of associated heart disease and stroke. Apart from simple cognition, music therapy may also allow patients to lead lives socially and emotionally, enabling them to free themselves, if just for a moment, from the chains of dementia.

            While Alzheimer’s disease and dementia take a heavy cognitive toll on patients, it often affects their psyche and social-emotional health even more significantly. The behavioral changes present in even early-stage dementia may be sufficient to induce societal stigma and isolation. Common signs of Alzheimer’s disease are linked to fear, anxiety, depression, and confusion (National Institute on Aging, 2024). Even as the malady takes its course and there are relatively few ways to decelerate its progression, the bottom line is that music therapy can provide comfort to patients and their families. A European survey study employed a qualitative approach to interviews with music therapists representing different nations. One of the most provocative findings was that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia distances couples primarily due to shifting feelings as well as redefining roles. The music therapists didn’t just play music for the estranged couples grappling with dementia; they also acted as connectors, ultimately assisting in bridging the widening gap that the “elderly malady” causes (Stedje et al., 2024). Music therapy may also moderate the adverse effects of dementia on patients’ behaviors. Mild-to-moderate stage dementia and Alzheimer’s disease presents as moderate-to-advanced cortical atrophy, meaning neuronal networks in the cortex have started dying from the toxicity of tau tangles. As the frontal and temporal lobes of the cortex are especially affected, personality and perception start to slip away from patients. In this vulnerable transition, medical practitioners often encounter patients experiencing delusions, aggression, and hallucinations. These conditions were all shown to have improved among geriatric patients from Murcia in Spain, where university neurologists personalized music therapy for each individual based on preferences. All mean scores in the Neuropsychiatric Index for delusions, agitation, and hallucinations were reduced by 1.00 or more, and the effect sizes indicated were large and statistically significant (Gallego & Garcia, 2017). Notable was the influence of music therapy after only four sessions of music therapy, potentially pointing to more sustained and pronounced effects from consistent longer periods of treatment. Reduction in agitations and delusions enable dementia patients to be more social and warm towards fellow patients, their families, and primary caretakers. While the previous study focused on the specific effects of targeted music therapy, a randomized controlled study in Finland seeked to generalize its results to several dimensions of patients’ well being. Ninety patient-caretaker groups were randomized to a control cohort with no musical activity, a music-listening cohort, or a singing cohort. The cohorts were followed over a ten-week period, with each week possessing a different theme. Day-to-day musical activity in both the music-listening and singing groups built off of previous trials in that the patients enjoyed an increase in emotional health; music solicited emotional responses in advanced dementia patients as well. Generally, the music-listening group was shown to have an improvement in quality of life, whereas the singing group displayed increased memory on top of emotional well-being of family members (Särkämö et al., 2013). As seen from this study, music therapy may be beneficial to all parties involved in the treatment of dementia, and enables patients and their families to reunite emotionally and spiritually, even if only for a while. There are caveats to the music therapy’s efficacy, however, especially given music therapy’s use as an umbrella term. In order to analyze whether music therapy is a true alternative to pharmacological interventions, its personalized, highly-specific nature must first be addressed.

            From the review and analysis of the above literature, it may seem that music therapy is the risk-free, established solution to finally ridding the scourge of neurodegenerative disease. There is one overarching inconsistency, granted. One observation the reader may draw from the aforementioned studies is that all studies varied in their definition of music therapy, and approached the music therapy treatment group differently. The ten-week personalized and themed music therapy period in Finland starkly contrasted with the sentinel surveillance of music therapists scattered across Europe. There is no set standard for music therapy as a whole, but perhaps it should be kept open to individual interpretation and design. Current ascendancy of music therapy is no different from the rise of precision medicine in the 21st century; despite sharing 99.9% of the human genome, individuals differ on physiology, behavior, and preferences. This begs the question: will a standardized approach to music therapy result in the most potent positive effect on dementia patients? Most likely not. Differing responses to personalized playlists were recorded and analyzed in a study performed on a cohort of 99 dementia patients. Most patients were subjected to 3 playlists of songs put together from suggestions from family members. While the patients’ facial expressions did indicate that they enjoyed the personalized playlists, the effect ranged from marginal to significant (Garrido et al., 2018). For apathetic patients also suffering from depression, the personalized music playlists increased the facial muscle activation of muscles indicating sadness. The results of this study should be heralded as a support of personalized music therapy, and otherwise treated with a grain of salt. “Music therapy” in the context of this study only consisted of playing music to patients, and facial expressions may not have been the most reliable way to measure patient enjoyment. One fact is clear: patients were familiar with the music played, which likely resurfaced melancholy episodic or musical memories. To implement music therapy in any context or form, it must first be adapted and personalized to the patient. A special example of this process was exhibited by the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. While trying to develop a music-based digital therapeutic for dementia patients, interdisciplinary neurologists and psychologists considered the time and resources it would require to design personalized music therapy for each individual patient. As expressed in the journal paper, there are plans drawn up to build such a prototype, focusing on personalization and application of music being played to patients. A machine learning model, BioMIR, would predict how a piece would affect patients’ moods, while also adjusting after being trained to a specific case (Russo et al., 2023). Such a device would not take the place of licensed music therapists; rather, it would provide a patient-caretaker interface, while possibly improving the well-being of both the patients and their caretakers. The face of music therapy will only continue to advance and improve, and it is difficult to estimate how bringing AI into the equation will affect, for better or for worse, the quality and specificity of mankind’s miraculous relationship with music.

            Alzheimer’s disease and dementia hasn’t ceased to eat away at elderly populations. What was known in ancient times as a “mental wasting ailment” continues to haunt mankind, with its specter looming over developed societies and an aging planet. Despite decades of progress, a definitive cure remains elusive. In light of these bleak prospects, a wide variety of interventions and therapies are available to mitigate the neuropsychiatric symptoms of neurodegeneration. The interventions range from hormone replacement to cholinesterase inhibitors, but these drugs have been shown to possess adverse side effects; the goal should be to not make patients suffer more than they already have. A gradual upward trend in interest towards music therapy for dementia and Alzheimer’s over the past two decades, meanwhile, portrays music therapy as a possible alternative to medications. Personalized music therapy alongside frequent interaction with family members and therapists has been indicated to have a pronounced effect on dementia patients’ memory, cognitive function, hormonal balance, and even social-emotional health. While music therapy has the potential to be the crown jewel of alternative care in neurodegeneration, health professionals will have to devote more resources to research and implementation of personalization and patient-specific care. The adoption of music therapy on a broad scale will be an indication that mankind has finally come to terms with its past, and with the natural cycle of aging - what better way to do so than with non-invasive, enjoyable music?

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Home is Where the Heart Is (by William)

What is home? For me and countless others, it means different things. I’ve always thought of home as an object; it is the humble abode in which we reside, and where memories are stored. It is a vessel that carries the family legacy forward, a place where next generations can work to improve off of the shoulders of the preceding ones.

Or at least, that is what I believed.

Growing up in America, caught between my roots in the Great Plains and my present community in SoCal, I had only ever heard of the old homeland across the Pacific. The last time I had been to Taiwan, I was five years old.

By my own definition, home is the US, right? After all, I had no deep connections with Taiwan, aside from my father’s family. Even though he had never actually attempted to influence me, the stories of my grandparents’ sacrifices -- my grandmother’s resilience, my grandfather’s valor -- had drawn me exceptionally close to Taiwan.

When I boarded the jet plane bound for Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, a mix of emotions washed over me. Was I leaving home to go home? Was I saying farewell to friends to return to friends I had bid farewell to long ago?

Stepping out of the airport, I was immediately greeted by a wave of oppressive heat. At 4 AM in the morning, the sticky fog clung to my skin. I could only imagine my grandparents’ first summer in Taiwan. Frightened, struggling, and terribly homesick for the North China plain, they must have languished in the heat as well.

Despite the heat, I could not forget about the charm of Hsinchu. Many an afternoon I would just wander aimlessly on the streets, living life as a local. Every other day, a store owner would be delighted to see me over spending on grass jelly with taro balls.

I quietly noted the differences between the US and the ROC; I had never quite been to another nation which embraced modernity while maintaining tradition as much as Taiwan.

Of all my experiences there, perhaps the most impactful was visiting CKS Memorial Hall. As we walked up the stairs to the square, I could feel excitement building up in my lungs. Perhaps the hall was my personal Mecca. My posture became straighter, and momentarily the heat left my body. All the revolutionary martyrs from generations before had enabled the flame of the Three Principles throughout all the years in exile. Perhaps the conjecture that Uncle Chen made was really true - maybe I really am a reincarnation of one of Chiang’s NRA soldiers.

(CKS Memorial Hall)

Apart from saluting before the Generalissimo’s statue, my day-to-day interactions were saturated with both adventure and kindness. Taiwan is right to call itself the Heart of Asia. Whether it was striking up a conversation with my taxi driver, or taking the train through Hsinchu, the people, my people were full of life. One day on the way home from work, I was accompanied by high school students from Hsinchu High School. Their uniforms, flashing in the evening sun, seemed to evoke lost memories, simultaneously conjuring the thoughts of an alternate childhood. Just like the nation, these students were sociable, friendly, and seemingly carefree. On other trains, I’d strike up conversation with other passengers. The spirit of Taiwan’s hospitality rubbed off on me day by day, wherever I went from the night markets where my grandfather grudgingly picked out rotting cabbage for my dad’s rabbits, from the observatory of Taipei 101, from the glistering waters of Tamsui, from the Nangang Station pork buns, from the narrow streets of Hsinchu, I felt a familiarity I had never before - a familiarity which welcomed me home.

(Hsinchu's Dongmen Market, where grandpa picked rotting veggies for my dad's rabbits)

As the sun set over the Taiwan Strait, I looked back at the beautiful Ilha Formosa receding behind us. Even with this visit, I am not content. I want to be able to come back more, and keep walking the paths my grandparents and my father did. My work is not done, for home is where the heart is. When I look back, I will always remember the bittersweet feelings of leaving home to return home. Taiwan is home!

Should Baby Editing be Allowed? (by William)

In the internet era where people already abuse the World Wide Web, it is hard to say whether or not we humans will abuse future technologies. As an esteemed comedian, Carrie Snow once muttered, “Technology…is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other.” The same goes for designer babies. This novel technology is widely debated by the scientific community. The question is: Where should the line be drawn? Babies should be engineered if the purpose is to help avoid misery and save lives. But if designing babies turns into a way for modifying smarts, looks, and athleticism, then the usage of this technology may make a turn for the worse.

Designing babies could potentially alter every life into a healthy one., cure people of genetic diseases before they are even born, and further scientists’ understanding of the human genome. According to Medical News, “Through genetic manipulation…lifespans could, in fact, be doubled, and offspring would also enjoy better health…” (Zoppi 4). Not only would the average lifespan be improved, but the global citizens would also be able to lead more healthy and active lives. Suicide rates may drop due to the happier nature of the people, and the risk of cancer would most certainly be decreased. For the global population to become happier, one step that baby designing has taken is lowering risks of genetic diseases and disorders, “With genetic diseases and disorders, “With…technique…CFTR-gene can be defected and repaired…” (Science Daily, 3). Ever since CRISPR-CAS9 started being used in 2012, an array of gene-linked diseases have been cured including the life-threatening sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and cancer. Since we have ample technology, children could avoid suffering from such disorders. Simply, babies could be cured before being born.

Lastly, designing babies and editing genes would help scientists understand the human genome better. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, “By changing a single gene…observe how these changes affect…human health” (NIH 4). By editing human genes, doctors and scientists can gain experience and knowledge on how to treat such diseases. In conclusion, gene editing for babies should be allowed as a treatment for gene-linked diseases, and as a way for scientists to better understand genes.

However, every coin has two faces. Designer babies should be allowed, but with some limitations. It is essential to sometimes question whether the future should be placed in the hands of the “genetically valid.” In the 1997 film, Gattaca, society is made up of “genetically valid” and “genetically invalid” people. The “valids” get high-earning jobs because they have favorable characteristics. Meanwhile, “invalids” do not “qualify” for the same roles as the “valids.”

If the Homo sapiens go too far with baby editing, the future world may end up as if the Nazis had taken over. “Desirable,” would be a direct reference to Hitler’s blonde, blue-eyed Aryans.

All in all, designer babies are a controversial new technology. While there are some concerns from the science community, gene-editing could change the world as we know it in a positive way if there are regulations put in place.

History’s Chronicles: The Mukden Incident Part 1 (by William)

September 18, 1931

Bao was running like he never had before. Flashes of red and yellow illuminated the hazy sky, as the deafening roars of artillery propelled his legs to pump faster. If he could just make it to that Manchurian meadow…

One day before...September 17, 1931

Cocka-doodle-do! The warbling rooster’s cry resounded into the early morning air. On the Li Family Farm, 15-year-old Bao stirred. The sun peeked out behind the clouds, shining its warm rays onto the earth below. A wide expanse of yellow-green greeted Bao as he stepped out the door. Tomorrow would be harvest day, and his family would enjoy a big meal of eggs, sorghum, and beans. It would be the most we ate in a long time. Even Da Huang, the family dog, would snack on a share. Breathing in the fresh Manchurian air, Bao wondered about class with Mr. Wei.

“Oh, no, I’m going to be late!” Bao suddenly hollered. He opened the farm gate, dashing as fast as he could. “Bye ma! Bye ba!” He dictated, guiding himself down the familiar path

“Bye, Bao! Come back early!” Called a groggy Mrs. Li.

 The 5-mile-path south to Mr. Wei’s home in a nearby village seemed endless. Mr. Wei was the local history teacher. Bao always wondered how Korea was annexed by Japan, as the Yalu River wasn’t too far from his own home in Liaodong. Mr. Wei, the local village teacher, always refused to answer the question.

“The history behind that is too painful.” Mr. Wei replied.

Bao ran on the dirt path in his dusty flats, past great plots of farmland and gentle rolling hills. Fields had yellowed with harvest season, and trees hung heavy with juicy fruit.

He skidded to a halt in front of his teacher’s home. To his dismay, Mr. Wei didn’t seem to be present.

“Come in, come in!” Commanded Mrs. Wei.

“Mr. Wei will be back in just in a minute. In the meantime, please be seated. Would you like some tea, Bao?” Mrs. Wei’s murmuring almost sounded like a works to a lullaby.

“Yes, please.” Bao responded. He was feeling exhausted after his 5-mile run to the Wei family home anyways. Mrs. Wei brought out the simmering liquid from the wooden kitchen. Bao took the cup gratefully. Upon taking a sip of the drink, his taste buds burst with enjoyment. The tea quickly traveled en route to his stomach, warming his insides against the cool Manchurian morning. Bao had almost forgotten his love for green tea.

As Bao emptied the tea cup, he saw Mr. Wei appear in the doorway.

“Ah, Bao, sorry for arriving so tardy. I was conducting business earlier today in Dalian.” Mr. Wei began apologetically.

“Dalian?! That’s 45 kilometers south of here!” Bao chortled.

“Yes, dear pupil. Let’s get to our lesson now. We will be studying a classic, The Creation of the Gods…”

 

3 hours later…

“So, dear disciple, you now know how Danji charmed her way into King Zhou’s court,” babbled Mr. Wei.

“Yes, I do, teacher. I will see you tomorrow at noon.” Bao thankfully turned to leave.

“Bao, stay for a moment,” Mr. Wei muttered.

“Yes, teacher?” Bao inquired.

“I have a serious matter to discuss with you.”

Fearing the worst, Bao wheeled around to face his teacher, only to see that Mr. Wei’s expression was hard, hard as a stone.

“Please do,” Bao replied uncertainly.

Mr. Wei sighed and muttered, “Bao, you are one of my brightest students. I want you, and I understand if you refuse, but would you join me on an espionage mission?”

Bao’s palms started sweating, “W-what mission, teacher?”

Mr. Wei sighed yet again and began whispering, “You know the business I was doing early today in Dalian? Well, I met up with an organization called the Sons of the Dragon. I heard from my Korean friend, Hwang Beom-Yeo, that a few battalions of the Japanese Kwantung Army in Korea mysteriously crossed the Yalu River last night.”

Mr. Wei lowered his voice, anxiously scanning the hilly Manchurian grassland. His voice was so quiet, one could hear the rustling of the nearby meadow. “The Sons of the Dragon is a resistance group against crime and Japanese rule. I am in it – so is my wife. We are a group of Chinese and Korean resistance fighters. Yesterday, our movement captured a few Japanese Nakajima fighter-bombers. If you agree to join, we will take off from a local Sons-of-the-Dragon-controlled airfield early tonight, and land in Baoshanzhen to observe the Kwantung army. The flight will take a little more than an hour. Are you in?”

Bao thought about the Kwantung Army. But then he recalled his family and his beautiful homeland. Turning to Mr. Wei, Bao dictated resolutely, “Yes, I’m in.”

“Perfect, meet me here at sunset tonight,” Replied Mr. Wei, smiling. As Bao ran home. He thought whether he should tell his parents about his little adventure-to-be.

“No, I shall not. For they will worry about me.” The words burst succinctly out of his larynx. No. He would meet Mr. Wei at sunset.

Ode to Failure (by William)

In one life,
there is always some strife.

We call it failure,
to which happiness and determination is the best cure.
As you see,
failure can be a key.

Failure can make you frown,
when it propels you down.
Don’t worry,
Just hurry –
to go and right your wrong.

When failing, get back up -
don’t settle as the runner-up.
You can fly high and far,
or buy a little cot.
So, why not?
You’ll be taking the lead,
and you’ll be content (that’s all you need).

Life is full of Gumps,
and un-Gumping yourself takes time and isn’t fun.
You see,
failure is a key.

If from mistakes you never learn,
you’ll forever be stuck like a genie in an urn.

But will you succeed?
From Dr. Seuss, “98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.”

Teacher Comparison: The Good and the Bad (by William)

    South Shores Academy is a fantastic high school. Indeed, many students who have graduated from South Shores have gone on to successful careers. Despite the outstanding faculty, there is one teacher who brings shame to the profession – the botany instructor. This botany course is the whole reason why South Shores Academy is rated 4.9 stars out of 5. Reader, please do not enroll in Mr. Snodgrass’ course. However, there are teachers at South Shores Academy. Mrs. Marvelous teaches the pediatrics class, and like herself, her class is marvelous. What makes these two teachers so different? The main factors are their personalities, subject mastery, and control over their classrooms.

    Mr. Snodgrass is an utterly horrible teacher. Students and staff are baffled why he even teaches at South Shores Academy, ruining the magnet school’s reputation. He has a questionable personality, one that many deem unsuitable for teaching. Mr. Snodgrass is a lazy man, and doesn’t bother to grade student work: favored students receive “As”, everybody else – “Fs.” He hates the hard-working students because they expect teachers to teach! This lazy instructor favors only the high schoolers who kiss up to him. Many parents have emailed him about student grades, but he simply ignores their questions and concerns. Mr. Snodgrass is also extremely pessimistic. In a staff meeting, he expressed his completely bleak views of the academy and stood up to leave, leaving a shocked and disgusted union behind him. To add onto his indolence and internal misery, Mr. Snodgrass is racially biased. He scolded some Pacific Islander students during a lab exercise, assuming that they were supposed to be “good at math.” Mr. Snodgrass’ horrible personality renders him an unlikeable classroom failure.

    When it comes to his understanding of the subject, Mr. Snodgrass is nowhere near being a real botanist. He bumbles to class everyday on loose limbs and barely knows what he’s talking about. Explaining concepts clearly – a basic requirement of teaching is almost alien to the horrible teacher. One time when scolding a student, he said, “You can always get to the level of discipline when you never dance with three-headed squirrel monkeys!” After yelling this outlandish comment, he promptly went back to teaching the vague lesson, leaving everybody exceptionally puzzled. It is to no wonder why many graduates from his course say they didn’t learn a thing. Mr. Snodgrass shows little understanding of botany. He picked some Oregon Grape Vine and brought it to his classroom for his students to study. Promptly two hours later, an ambulance departed from South Shores Academy. The ambulance, headed to South Shore Hospital, carried five people poisoned by Poison Oak. Because of Mr. Snodgrass’ amateurism in botany, he put his students’ health at risk. Mr. Snodgrass fails to make his lessons relevant to life, which helps students realize the importance of acquired concepts. He thinks that lesson relevance has no good purpose, so Snodgrass simply doesn’t tie what students learn to real life. One of the most important traits to have as a good teacher is a sense of humor, but Mr. Snodgrass is about as funny as a rock. This may be why Chase Snodgrass has no friends among the faculty. He doesn’t like jokes, and certainly hates using funny literary devices in teaching. In summary, Mr. Snodgrass doesn’t have any mastery over his subject, and doesn’t care whether the students are learning valuable information from botany class.

    What may set Mr. Snodgrass aside from good teachers the most is his control over his classroom. Good teachers may be strict but kind in a classroom setting. Instead, he rules over his class in an authoritarian way, and is not at all kind to his students. On the first day of botany class, he made two students cry. On the second day, he made five people cry, and sent another to the principal’s office for not crying. One may clearly see why eight people transferred to Mr. Darwin’s ecology class on the third day of botany. Mr. Snodgrass is short-tempered and provoked easily. The students literally see steam blowing out of his ears as his face turns into a ripe apple. Mr. Snodgrass is not only authoritarianist, disrespectful, and hot-headed, he is also insensitive. When some of his students were poisoned by Poison Oak, he demanded that they stay in class instead of asking for immediate medical attention. Only when the students’ skin started swelling did he really note what he had done. To top all of this off, there have been rumors saying that Mr. Snodgrass didn’t really want to teach in the first place. He is currently 40 years old and was strongly advised to take the education path. He never wanted to teach but did anyways. In conclusion, Mr. Snodgrass is a horrible teacher with a miserable personality, little mastery over his subject, deteriorating control of his classroom, and no love for teaching high schoolers.

    On the other side of the life sciences building lies a heavenly classroom, headed by no other than Mrs. Marvelous. Mrs. Marvelous teaches the pediatrics course at South Shores Academy, and her class is, well…rather marvelous! She and Mr. Snodgrass are so different that one could have never imagined that they teach at the same school. She inspires her young pediatricians with her wondrous personality, mastery over her subject, and her amazing control of the classroom.

    Mrs. Marvelous is the best teacher in South Shores Academy. All the students and faculty are privileged to have her as a friend and guide. In opposition to Mr. Snodgrass’ questionable personality, Mrs. Marvelous’ personality is just brilliant. She is hard working and critically grades student work so that her students have a thorough understanding of the concepts which she is teaching. Unlike Mr. Snodgrass, she doesn’t play favoritism – plus, her least favorite people are the students who try to lick her boots. If a student isn’t happy about the grades, Mrs. Marvelous always invites him/her to discuss what could have been done better. The student learns how to improve and then implements the changes in his/her study habits. Mrs. Marvelous has an optimistic approach to every problem. At the same staff meeting where Mr. Snodgrass had shared his bleak opinions and stormed off, she had remarked on the tremendous improvements that South Shores Academy was making. Mrs. Marvelous has a different philosophy to tolerance. She believes that everybody has strengths and weaknesses, no matter their ethnicity, gender, or religious beliefs. She brings out student strengths and helps her young learners nourish their weak spots. Mrs. Marvelous doesn’t send people to the Principal because of their race – rather, she sends racist people to the Principal. She recently sent a kid to the principal’s office for teasing an Islamic classmate who fasted during lunch. Mrs. Marvelous’ reasonable and kind personality makes her popular among students, parents, and fellow teachers.

    Possessing a 15-year-long experience as a pediatrician, Mrs. Marvelous has the sufficient expertise in order to teach the course at South Shores. She bolts into her classroom every day, ready to begin a new day of learning with her students. Unlike her floundering counterpart, she truly feels ready for each new day at school. Her long years of experience as an outstanding physician enables her to convey complex topics to students in a clear manner. Many of her graduates come back to South Shores Academy to thank her and visit, while none of Mr. Snodgrass’ students ever stop by (not like Chase Snodgrass cares anyway). Mrs. Marvelous always has up-to-date materials and engaging labs. She has never ever mixed anything up, since she is not an amateur in her subject. “Mixing things up can be fatal for your child patient,” she commonly reiterates. She always ties her lessons into real life, as she thinks it is essential to developing a life-long grasp around biochemistry. Much to her students’ delight, she once brought in a whole bag of marshmallows and pretzel sticks, and told the students to model one of the biological macromolecules. She instructed students to build the model, examine it, and then destroy it (eat it). As for class engagement, she is usually “humerus.” In yesterday’s class, “Alright everybody! I aorta tell you how to measure blood concentration. I lobe how you guys are learning it, but this concept is as hard as enamel. The blood concentration may seem tough, but if you pay attention, you’ll find it tibia okay! Ready? Let’s bone!” All students groan and chuckle, but at least they find Mrs. Marvelous’ literary devices and humor to be helpful in memorization. In summary, Mrs. Marvelous masters her subject, and minds whether the students are learning valuable information from pediatrics class.

    Mrs. Marvelous has much better classroom control than her counterpart. She is strict with her students, but not overly strict like Mr. Snodgrass. She is kind to her students and understands how they may resent an overly authoritarian teacher. Julie Marvelous is respectful and listens to what her students have to say before offering her own point of view. Throughout her tenure at South Shores, she has never inadvertently or intentionally upset her students. Mrs. Marvelous is truly a great teacher to experience.

    So, reader, it is now your choice. Since science is a required course, will you take botany or pediatrics at South Shores Academy?

So...What's the Better Hunting Dog? (by William)

            Canis familiaris has been mankind’s friend for thousands of years. They protected us from dangerous predators for a share of food from hunts. Over time, wolf bred and evolved into many species of dog. The question is, which species should you get for a hunting dog? Will you pick the Cocker Spaniel or the Labrador Retriever? Let’s see the differences to make the decision easier.

            Cocker spaniels and Labrador retrievers are so different that one could even view them as polar opposites. Your choice on which dog to adopt may depend on appearance preference. If our customer prefers a small dog averaging about 14.5 inches tall, the cocker spaniel may be your choice. The cocker spaniel weighs an average of 25 pounds, and has long hair. The dog owner should be prepared for frequent grooming needs as well as lots of shedding. Made iconic in the 1995 Disney movie, Lady and the Tramp, most cocker spaniels are multicolored, making for a beautiful coat. Labrador retrievers are very different. They have a stately, commanding appearance, and their average height is 23 inches. Their stocky build with a normal weight of 67 pounds allows them to hound down a target. Labradors also shed a lot, so you may need to tolerate short fur all over couches and floor mats. Frequent grooming is recommended for this breed, similar to cocker spaniels. This active breed of dog usually is yellow, black, or brown. The coats are single-colored, unlike the stylish spaniels. Though spaniels may look cuter or prettier than Labrador Retrievers, their personalities can be quite ugly.

            Perhaps dog appearance doesn’t matter to you, the dog enthusiast. In this case, judge these dogs by their personalities, and find the right dog for yourself. The Cocker spaniel’s appearance certainly doesn’t match its disposition. They have a high-hat attitude which can often emit an arrogant aura. The intelligence of these dogs aren’t any better. Cocker spaniels are rated “average” on the intelligence scale. I’ve heard from some friends that misbehaving cocker spaniels like to pee all over the place, and attack you with their vicious bites. Speaking of bites, cocker spaniels have bad temperaments. They are easily provoked and can often bite. Plus, these cantankerous canines don’t only bite when angry – remember to not make them too excited, as they will also bite under these circumstances. Meanwhile, the Labrador retriever is a wonderful companion! These doggies are great for families, given their easy-going and mellow disposition. Their eyes glimmer with kindliness, and even get along (at least they try) with neighborhood dogs. They are fiercely loyal to owners and can even act as a guard dog. Labradors are extremely intelligent. According to a study, Labradors can learn and recognize up to two hundred and fifty visual or auditory signals. That is eighty-five more than a non-Lab! These dynamic dogs are able to adapt quickly into new environments, much faster than the high-strung cocker spaniels. To top these good signals off, the Labrador retriever rarely bites. Due to their compassionate nature, Labradors are friendly and perfect for hunting dogs. They don’t viciously bite you – they save their energy to ferociously assail prey.

            In conclusion, the cocker spaniels may be a prettier sporting dog. Labrador retrievers, however, make better hunting dogs in the long run due to their intelligence and attitude. Well, the choice is yours!