Music : The Most Underutilized Tool Of Education

Living in a world surrounded by noises and sounds, one cannot deny that music lives all around them. Schools, street corners, sporting events, there is one thing you will always find: music. Music education is quickly becoming defunct in schools, as many try to decry its many benefits. A growing emphasis on the concrete subjects of math and science, whose benefits are more immediate, are pushing the creativity and imagination of music classes to the back of the budget. Music education is no longer described as stimulating and exciting, but rather unnecessary and distracting. But the benefits of having an education in music is undeniable. Simply being around music can have a positive impact on life. Music enables the human race to discover emotions that they have never uncovered before. The human mind is refreshed by music; “our imagination and memories are stimulated by the sounds, and summon feelings and memories associated with the musical sound” (Wingell 15). Without music, the world would be silent. Lifeless. No matter what language one speaks or what culture one is from, music is a universal language, connecting the hearts of people around the entire world. In schools throughout the nation, that connection is being severed because of budget cuts and lack of funding, but the benefits of music education are clear. The benefits of having an education in music are not only present in the classroom; a lasting impact is also left on the social and emotional growth of a person, though the gains may not be evinced immediately. Participating in musical education programs in schools can give students the opportunity to form lasting friendships and to gain skills that will last them their entire lives. Music education can be beneficial to students because it enhances students’ performance in the classroom, aids in improving student’s interest and engagement in school, and advances students’ social and emotional growth.

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.

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.

Silence. This is what many people would hear if they walked into just one of the many music halls in a school whom has cut their music program. Many schools across the nation are suffering from severe budget cuts, and sadly music is far too often the first on the list to go. Music in the American public school system is often a way for students to express themselves and develop a sense of pride and devotion by being a musician. Yet, music education has been proven to improve young students’ cognitive capabilities, music programs are still being cut from the curriculum in schools across the nation. Funding, nation testing standards, availability, and participation are major factors whether a program may or may not stay in American classrooms, which demonstrates America’s destructive need for results from students to be tangible at the expense of the enjoyment of students.

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.

Web. 21 Feb. 2016. This article’s author argues that it is important for music classes to remain available to children in school due to their mental benefits. The author explains that many school boards tirelessly attempt to eliminate music programs, however, there is abundant evidence that supports keeping the programs since learning music can dramatically improve children’s ability to read and comprehend math. The author backs their argument with a plethora of statistics from various sources showing the sharp contrast between the scores of music and non-music students. This article adds to the proof that education can be aided by a student’s understanding of

It is understood why this has been stressed against music in schools. However, it is faulty. Other beliefs are that it does more harm than good because “it affects grades negatively”. In the words of John McDaniel, “They claim that students will spend too much time on practicing, trips and performances, which will affect

This article, posted first on The Music Parents Guide, is also available on the NAFME website and was written by Tony Mazzocchi. The article begins with a reference to the recent inclusion of music as a part of core education, considered a progressive step by many in the music education community. However, Tony warns that despite this legal change, schools will need to be convinced to make real changes in supporting their music programs as an equal part of the students’ education. To this end, three reasons are provided for why schools need music today:

As a young boy, Bill Clinton loved everything about his music class in school. Clinton was in the school band and he played the tenor saxophone; it was his favorite pass time. His hard work paid off when he became one of the best saxophone players in his school and won first chair in the state band's saxophone section. Frightened of the future, Clinton used his musical talent to earn multiple academic and musical scholarships for college. Later in his life, Clinton ran for president and became the 42nd President of the United States ("It All Began in a Place Called Hope”). Clinton shows his support for the arts when he states, “I do not think I would have become President if it were not for my school music program” (qtd. in Wise 1). Art and music in public schools are usually funded by the government; however, not everyone agrees that these programs should be funded by the government. There are two main sides to the

Although music education does help increase productivity and overall education in schools, the decline of music can benefit some people. Not everyone in the school likes music. In fact, some people can’t even tolerate the thought of music. Either they don’t find any interest in it or they just are not good at it. People lose interest in things after a while if they don’t

Picture yourself walking through a hallway in a high school The same hallway that every Friday afternoon the band marches down playing music for the football game pep rally. Or, visualize walking by the auditorium and hearing the beautiful, distinct voices of each person in the choir. Now, picture that same school but with no music education, no band, and no glee clubs. Imagine that group of kids for whom music was a major part of their world. Where do you see these kids now? Lost? Hurting? Not able to cope or fit in to a group of people? Wondering where they belong? Music education is slowly getting eliminated in public schools. Without these ensembles, kids do not have a way to express their feelings and are not able to connect with other

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

There are copious amounts of schools across the U.S who have dropped their music programs because of funding and academic issues. School districts that are losing funding find themselves desperately searching for alternatives to save money. (Bryant) They discover that the easiest and possibly best area to cut funding in is music because of the enormous amount of money that goes into the program for various essentials. The additional funds that aren’t being spent on instrument repairs or sheet music will be spent on areas that school districts believe require more monetary attention, such as mathematics and reading. (Fang) The idea at play is that cutting the music program will kill two birds with one stone. Other departments in the school that need more funding will gain

This philosophy essay will focus on the current state of music education within secondary schools across Australia, choosing to address the particular issue of student access to appropriate levels of information, communication and technology interfaces (ICT’s) within the classroom, and the supporting role they play in music education. Secondary students do not always have equal opportunities and miss out on music participation due to conditions surrounding music provision – e.g. due to a “crowded curriculum” (too many cross-curricular activities and subjects), the impact of other subjects, lack of confidence among music teachers and shortage of resources (Hoegh-Guldberg, 2013). This essay explores how the current lack of availability and use of ICT’s for music education purposes, as well as the general lack of music technology resources and facilities can have a detrimental effect on student learning, or lack there-of. If students do not have access to the level of technology and support that they need to adhere to certain technological requirements in the Australian Curriculum, then they are deprived of the full benefit of teaching and learning in a modern technological era.