Important Aspects Of Music Education

The history of our schools is told beginning with the founding of our nation, moving through the common school movement, the arguments of the progressive era, and leading up to all of the modern acts made in the 21st century. Music education is a factor in the public schools, and it is rarely discussed as part of the history of our schools. Music education has been a part of our schools since the beginning and continues to better our students to this day.

Before I get into the full explanation of how music education is vital to a students full academic development I am going to share another reason why music education is so important. Have you ever thought of what it would be like to live in a world with literally no music? No birds chirping, no bands, no pop singers, no music in movies. Summed up the world would be a pretty boring and bland place without music and music education is what keeps music alive.

In today’s society, the value of music education is declining at an alarming speed. Many schools around the United States have been forced to cut spending on music in place of other classes that are viewed as being much more important. This is a travesty for our culture and for our future generations. Little does our society realize that there are many benefits that music education has to offer. The Government should make every kids take a music class of their choice at a young age.

Teaching music comes in all different kinds of methods and views. Music plays a very vital role in our school systems, and is arguably just as important as any other subject. The teacher pays various roles in the classroom, but always keeps the students’ best interest in mind. The student also plays various roles in the classroom, but is always expected to come to class ready to learn. The curriculum allows teachers to create clear and concise lesson plans that fit the students needs. And effective instructional methods will vary from student to student, and effective teachers will try several methods to breakthrough to the student.

“Musical is a universal experience. With few exceptions, all humans perceive musical pitch, tone, timbre, and harmony. We listen to music to relax, to help us think, to celebrate, and grieve. Our emotional responses to music have been noted in literature, poetry, and drama. The power of music to evoke an emotional response is used by advertising companies, film directors, and mothers singing their babies to sleep. Early education teachers are familiar with using music and rhythm as tools for learning language and building memory. (Foran, 2009) Several musical melodies are used in grade school to learn information. Music is used in my math classes across the world to enhance the learning process of formulas. English classes use music help children learn prepositional phrases, adjectives, adverbs, noun, and etc. However, after most scholars reached a certain grade level, using music to achieve new heights academically became a technique of the past. Most instructors didn’t bother using music in order to help retain information. It was almost as if it was forgotten about. But, if music is so important why isn’t it allowed in most classrooms today? Many teachers are not fond of music in the classroom. To many, it is seen as a distraction. Is it the type of music a person chooses to listen to? Would it be different if the music chosen by

The best teachers can do is to not allow students to see when the students have not meet the expectations they had and when students do not meet their own expectations, the teacher needs to encourage the student to try again and learn from their previous experience;

I chose to major in music education because of my love of music and a desire to pursue a comprehensive and versatile music degree. As a student of Gordon Stout and Conrad Alexander, I have excelled musically as well as academically. I maintain a 3.9 cumulative GPA, and have made Dean’s List every semester while working two part time jobs and volunteering for various organizations. Although I enjoyed student teaching, I found my passion during the internships I had at the esteemed not-for-profit art organizations: Handel and Haydn Society, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and Little Kids Rock. Planning, organizing and executing various performances, fundraising events and educational programs is exciting and gratifying

Having arts in school is a way a student express himself or herself in ways they are unable to in any other classroom. It is important for each student to have their own identity and have ways of letting their talents and personalities shine. For some, it may be sports or scholars bowl, for others it is art, music, or theater. “I have several students who don’t care to be on the football field or on the basketball court. These students find their nitch in the practice room, on the stage, or in front of an easel surrounded by paints and brushes. As sports are a release for athletes, music and art are ways to express feelings and emotions. Fine arts has helped many of my students find their identity” (Wildeman). There are many benefits to music education include being disciplined, learning a skill, being part of the music world, managing performance, and being part of something you can be proud

The issue/concern that I am bringing forth in my Capstone project deals with public education. More specifically, music education in secondary school within the public school system. In recent years, the arts have not been the priority in regards to funding and what our youth needs in terms of preparation for the real world. This is partially due to instituting ideas like NCLB (No Child Left Behind) to focus on just the essentials for children to learn. In the academic world, one may refer to this as essentialism in education. As a result, the arts have viewed as not something that is essential. My case originated from my own personal experiences as a music educator and seeing growth from music students.

Music is interpreted differently from around the world but to me, music is motivational and inspiring. It’s a way to express emotions and a language that cannot be put into words. Music creates an avenue for empathy and a new understanding and it is part of my lifestyle. Music always gives you company when you are bored or in the shower. It gives a meaning and purpose to life. Music is important because it is the key to creativity.

Music is a hands-on and emotional rollercoaster of opportunities to express moments in our lives that need to be felt. We drive about in our cars and we hear tunes of the season, played away on our radios. We have CDs and cassette tapes filled with memorabilia, back when the music was "good," as the parents may recall. Music is never-ending, and that is what I believe is the most valuable factor of it all. It doesn't matter if you can sing an Italian opera, hum in the shower, or attempt to play the recorder without sounding like a fool. What matters is that music continuously aids those in society, no matter how small the impact, or optimal stress release. (And to be blatant, I haven't met a soul who dislikes a melody of some kind or another.)

In the article Superintendents Speak up for Music Education by Karen Cross, it was all about how the superintendents in four different districts viewed the music program. The four districts that they focused on were Fort Bend ISD, Dripping Springs ISD, Klein ISD, and Mesquite ISD. This article was more in an interview format, every superintended was asked the same question. The four of them seemed to agree on one thing, that is the importance of having a music program in the schools. When asked about some of the benefits that students attain from being in a music program, they all agreed that it helps them develop life skills. The music program can be seen as a relaxing class by many students. When using the word relaxing, I am not referring

Music education is not only the study of rhythms and note patterns; music education is the chance to study an art form that is new and different each and every time it is practiced or performed. Musically educated students not only have a better understanding of the fine arts than other students, but have a more critical eye and ear for everything around them. Music education is a gateway for a greater understanding of the world we live in.

Few would argue against the idea that we educate ourselves and our society so that we have adequate means with which to understand and interact with elements of the world around us. Subjects such as mathematics, language, history, and the hard sciences are granted immediate and unquestioned legitimacy in our schools, and with good reason. We encounter each of these elements of our lives on a daily basis. We need to have an understanding of these disciplines in order to interact with them, otherwise they are meaningless to us. I submit that the same can be said for the fundamental concepts of music. Music is something that we encounter in our society every day. It surrounds us. Indeed

The stigma associated with pursuing an education in the musical arts affects the decision of many musicians nationwide. The appeal of guaranteed financial and career stability of STEM and other paths of high demand jobs is very difficult to pass up, even by the most dedicated musicians. Then, the input and advice of outsiders come into play. These onlookers not only encourage study of the hard sciences and a foolproof path to success via university, but they also totally and blatantly discourage and belittle the intelligence, rationality and integrity of not just the paths of musicians, but all liberal artists. Don’t you want to make money? What do you mean you won’t have internships, don’t you want a job? How are you going to survive? This blitzkrieg of questioning and doubt, though theoretically peripheral to the bigger picture, is reasonably common, however, severely unjustified. Pursuing a formal college education in music is easily one of the best things you could do for yourself, regardless of whether or not this is the career path of your choosing. As a student of formal music education, you are actually being trained in more real world skills than most other majors, which will prepare you for many careers, making you stand-out amongst the masses. Being a music major, you learn more than just music, you learn problem-solving skills, how to communicate and collaborate, and how to overcome failure, which are all essential skills to have as a professional in today’s day