Malcom Bane: The National Association For Music Education

Throughout history music has played an important role in society, whether it was Mozart moving people with his newest opera or the latest album from the Beatles. Where would society be today without music? With schools cutting their music programs, the next Mozart may not get his chance to discover his amazing talent. Music programs are essential to education. To fully understand this one must understand how music helps the human body, why schools have cut music programs, and why people should learn music.

Current State: I have been teaching at HCA for two years now and in that time I have been able to recruit 13 of our current 16 musicians. This means that out of a program that covers 5th through 12th grades the majority of the students currently in the program have been directly brought into the program by me. Part of the reason that we have so many young musicians is due to teacher turnover in the five years preceding my arrival at HCA. Due to various circumstances I was the fifth band director in as many years. This negatively impacted the program over time and caused huge gaps in participation, especially in the older grades. As a result I was hired to rebuild the program from the bottom up and that is what I have done. In the two years I have a nearly 50% recruiting rate and the retention of students has also been quite high. The band program serves a number of students who would otherwise not be engaged in other current programs. There are a number of students with learning issues who have benefited greatly from their inclusion and full participation in band. This is a program that engages students of all learning levels and helps them be a part of a team and work together with other students on shared goals. Students are not only learning instrumental

In a small recreational center in Charlotte, North Carolina came together a group of individuals with immense talent. These accomplished individuals not only shared a love for the performing arts, but a profound love for their grieving community. The Listen Up! semi-annual showcase was put together in the wake of the Keith Lamont Scott incident which shook up the Charlotte community. Tyrone Jones and the Charlotte Symphony wanted to give the people an outlet for expressing their emotions about current events, and so, they put together the Listen Up! showcase. Expertly crafted, Tyrone Jones and the Charlotte Symphony were profoundly effective at blending various forms of performing arts into one cohesive show that addressed current events,

On April 11th, 2017 in the Louis Armstrong Theatre, I attended the GVSU “University Band”. This up-beat ensemble lasted about 90 minutes; the talented students of GVSU’s university band joined together to perform multiple different songs ranging from a Waltz to a Dixieland Jamboree. All of the songs that the band played for the audience were all well-known, popular songs that they all enjoyed. Having the opportunity to attend this concert has opened new musical paths for myself and has allowed me to enjoy and kindly critique something that I perhaps would have never had the chance to otherwise.

I can say I’m a multi-instrumentalist. I can play the harmonica, the trombone, the ukulele, the bass, the piano, the electric and acoustic guitar, and I’m probably forgetting one. But really I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her” (Montes). “One of the big things I teach my kids is how through hard work, you can accomplish anything. Whenever a kid shows up to a lesson, I always ask them if they practiced, and sometimes they say no because they don’t have a piano at home. It reminds me of the days when I couldn’t even afford a piano, but I push those thoughts away and work towards helping these kids fulfill their dreams as I’ve fulfilled mine. Music teaches the kids how to work through a tough song, and through time and practice, they always get it at the end” (LaBeau). Ronnie’s School of Music has performed annually for several of the city’s prominent events: the Arroyo Lighting at Christmas, Saint Anthony’s Fall Festival, Winter Texan festivals, and many more. LaBeau teaches students of all ages, from three to ninety seven. The majority of her students, however, come from Saint Anthony Catholic

When I purchased the tickets I was unaware that Men for Hope was a benefit concert. The Men for Hope Incorporation was founded in September 2015. It was established to support single women that are raising young men. They are a non-profit organization that mentors young men and provide

Across the United States many elementary school music classrooms are filled with simple and popular tunes such as Hot Cross Buns and The Ode to Joy, played on the recorder, while high school students may be playing collegiate or professional pieces of music such as Armenian Dances and Carmen Suites. I have been very fortunate to have gone on the journey of progressing through different music education programs within Fairfax County Public Schools. If I was never exposed to music while in elementary school I might not have ever found one of my greatest passions or been able to create such fond and unforgettable memories. While music education programs across the country appear large and strong, many schools are beginning to experience budget reductions. As a result, music is often the very first component of a school 's curriculum or programs to be cut or significantly reduced, but I believe this is not the right course of action. It is important to preserve and promote music education in public schools because of the proven cognitive, character,and academic benefits for students.

As I walk into the football field in this cool Saturday night, I am greeted by the beat of the drums and various instruments being blasted from each talented musicians. But instead of meeting with the band in the football field on a school night, we met at Kapolei High School for the 6th Annual Kapolei Marching Band Festival on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Our nerves were in excitement, but this year will be different. After our performance, I was convinced that we had performed to the best of our ability. As award time came around, we would find out if we performed the best in our division.

The Haiti/MCC benefit concert and silent auction took place in the event center on the campus of Mott Community College on April 23, 2017. The Silent Auction began at 2:30, followed by the Benefit Concert at 3 p.m. All profits were used to support Haitian music students who associated with the Holy Trinity Music School in Haiti, and students participating in the MCC ensembles program. It was the first time that I was in a preparation team for a music concert. We were the second group in reception, so most of our time was serving at the food court and running to kitchen. I was so worry about accident might be happened during concert. However, everything was run smoothly and we had a successful and perfect

The festival which already receives funding from major companies, can seek out new music focused company sponsorship's that will provide aid for the costs of the concerts. The last opportunity for the festival includes the role it can provide in educating the local youth about local cultural music, theater, and arts. Many may grow up to have a strong appreciation towards their own communities’ festival.

Throughout the past year, I have observed students at various levels at the DSR, and consistently witness the power of the unparalleled education and experience the students are receiving, whether the student is five years old, or fifty. The classes that occur every week are more than just music classes; music is the core of a joyful and hugely influential way to educate and enrich the lives of those students who are involved.

Once companies make large contributions, they can send worthy volunteers to events held by the foundation on their behalf (“What’s Going On”). Lucky volunteers may even meet celebrity artists and make connections in the music industry. In fact, the foundation is holding its 20th Anniversary Gala next fall in New York City, where famous musical artists such as Mariah Carrey and Jason Derulo have attended in past years (“What’s Going On”). The gala is based on the Pay It Forward campaign, with the organization describing the concept as, “a good deed is done for you and, in return, you pass that good deed forward to someone new” (“What’s Going On”). Anyone involved with this campaign would be paying forward the benefits of music to countless communities across the United States, furthering their effectiveness as an educator and increasing their contributions to music education itself. But aside from benefiting the skills of its volunteers and setting up celebrity meetings, the VH1 Save the Music Foundation provides diligent workers with a sense of pride in knowing that they have allowed young people a more well-rounded education (“What’s Going On”). The foundation even provides information entailing possible positive outcomes of their work, stating, “The benefits of music education are astounding, and studies have consistently exposed the

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

“Education- should enhance understanding of the world, of oneself, and of one’s own experience” (Kelly 2009). What is important about music education? There are many important aspects in music education like pedagogy and performance. For me, music education is about letting the students express themselves. Having the ability to give an idea or to vent is a vital tool in today’s society. This concept influences music because expression is not only in how to connect a phrase, but also how to tell a story. With my time in college, Dr. Joseph Frye will always tell me to tell a story with music. He will also ask me what I want to feel after playing a piece. This is what I believe is important in music education.