Music Theory Personal Statement

In their “Music Matters” pamphlet, the Arts Education Association argues that arts education improves students’ abilities in Core tested areas and brain development. It is vital for every child to be able to better themselves in addition to their mind. A new study from the National Institutes of Health Magnetic Resonance (MRI) Study of Normal Brain Development says that training in music helps children be more mature emotionally and behaviorally, in addition to refined fine motor skills (Nutt). These are the developments that all children need in order to develop healthily. Mathematical skills are learned and reinforced in musical practice, which is why band kids perform better in math than their other nonmusical peers as they age in their educational careers (Arts Education Partnership). This is important because this development is dual-purposed for two subjects and relates them both to academic improvement. Leveling the playing field in the terms of students better understanding an essential subject will also aid in their development because they will be able to understand English more. Music students also have stronger determination, leadership skills, and observation and performance abilities that future universities and employers search for in successful students and employees (Arts Education Partnership). These benefits are multi-purposed and useful in numerous aspects of a person’s academic and employment future. Should these be made available for all students in order to give them equal opportunities to prepare them for the real world, then they will most likely have the opportunity to become

Everyday music engulfs us whether we are watching a show, listening to the radio, or shopping at a grocery store. Music gives humans the ability to express oneself when there is no other way. Music sparks more creativity, emotions and brain function than any other activity.

With means to express oneself, helps one overcome the difficulties of life. This approach represents the entire nature of the hip hop culture, especially when dealing with social justice issues. Today, the hip hop culture association revolves around raps (lyrics) and the rappers which reflect how consumers receive messages about social justice issues. Unlike breaking and graffiti, the music/lyrics penetrate society more. However, for this analysis, the focus will rely on a visual element with a connection to hip hop music. Even though a music video would make sense as a visual means of expression, this analysis has more interest in the cover art that goes with a hip hop album. Also, this focus will lead to the question of how important is art

Demonstrate understanding of relationships between music and the other arts, other disciplines, varied context, and daily life.

Many might say that the arts are stereotyped as a pass time or an extracurricular activity; I envision it as a safe haven from stress and anxiety. Throughout the past 8 years, music has played an insurmountable role in my development into the individual I have become today. Through times of disappointment and dissatisfaction, I have always resorted to music as a way to relieve myself, whether it be playing or listening. Music thrives through me, and applies to every day of my life.

Although my formal journey in music had to be temporarily halted once I started high school, my musical background has allowed me to construct my own identity in the world. I have acquired a sense of admiration for both the elaborate and simplistic elements that exist within the vast depths of our perception. I realize that possessing a commitment to persistent study through a solid foundation is crucial. I realize that in order to pursue my own interests and passions, choosing to think for myself, is equally as vital. I have come to view life as an infinite climb in which I am constantly seeking new heights. Although my niche in this world is evolving constantly, my appetite for learning remains resolute. My desire to test the limits and boundaries of life is fueled, not by the notion of reaching the top, but rather within the journey of overcoming obstacles in my struggle to unlock the mysteries of this world. The need to satisfy this perpetual craving for knowledge inspires me to search for answers—to understand the depths of life and where I stand in the midst of it

At my core, I am a musician. I find music springing up in unexpected places in my life. I sang three songs in AP Chemistry. I authored an 1800 presidential election propaganda song for AP US History. I improvised a tune to Beasts of England, the anthem of the rebellious animals in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, for English 9. I often recall an opera aria whenever I encounter a new word while self-studying the Italian language. I

I expanded my musical lexicon to free jazz, neo-psychedelia, post-punk, ambient-drone and freak folk. Each genre slotted into my change in timbre: free jazz and neo-psychedelia paralleled my novel appreciation for art in every discipline; ambient-drone became the collectedness I acquired; freak folk and post-hardcore gave rise to my idiosyncratic individualism. With these qualities, I proved myself to be a top performer as an academic, winning the undergraduate awards for Statistics and Calculus while maintaining excellence in all other subjects, as a tutor, helping younger students in the high school, middle school, and nearby towns, and as a leader, winning two vice presidential seats and placing top ten in a national robotics competition. Perhaps more importantly than these accomplishments, I began to walk my own path. For the first time, I genuinely felt that I found my

In the future, I hope I can have as much an impact on the next generation of misfit youths as my band director had on me, and will consider my life a success if I can teach my students as much about compassion and acceptance as I can tetrachords and “two-five-one” progressions. The key to this goal is earning a degree in music education from an institution as well regarded as Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. I believe the leadership skills I have developed as a three-year section leader in my high school marching band, as well as my belief in the importance service and kindness qualify my admission into Rutgers, and I am confident that the university’s superior music education program will empower me to pursue my dream of helping others rise against their adversity through the art of

I am in the process of getting a Bachelor of Science in Contemporary music, with a Molecular Biology focus. I am a very fast learner, adaptable, dedicated, and hard-working. Through my program at Lipscomb University, I have learned the fundamentals of the music business, good administrative skills, good people skills, and refined my passion for music. Now, I would like to put my knowledge into practice.

Some people think that music can positively influence the listener while others disagree and argue that it has a negative impact. Mark Edmundson, the author of “Can Music Save Your Life?,” asserts through his own experience and the research of others that music solely “preserves” the listener’s life as a “balm—cortisone spread” (paragraph 25). His use of a well-known medical supplement makes it more relatable and believable to the reader. The authors of “Feeling the Beat” support Edmundson by stating that they observed an increased sense of confidence in oneself and one’s beliefs in the people they interviewed(Iwamoto, Creswell, & Caldwell 346). Their main support is the quote from one of their interviewee’s who said, “We can identify what they are talking about” (Iwamoto, Creswell, & Caldwell 343). This not only explains why students listen to certain types of music, but also why it can have such an impact on them. Derek Iwamoto, John Creswell, and Leon Caldwell declare their statement that positive influence of music by stating that the majority of the students they observed used their music as a way to

As opportunities to present my research arose, first for community music organizations, then for school events, professors began suggesting the field of musicology as a potential path after graduation. The various

Music is an art, entertainment, pleasure, and medicine for the soul and body. Music is one of the few activities that involves using the whole brain. It is distinct to all cultures and has surprising benefits not only for learning language, improving memory and focusing attention, but also for physical coordination and development. My journey with the art has formed who I am today through the infinite possibilities that music offers any type of player. My solace and safe haven lie within a sheet of staff lines and spaces. Music begun and will continue to be my longest and most self taught course. This transcends more than just a combination of sounds and rhythms, it’s arguably deeper than life itself.

Although many, one positive way music education is beneficial to students is that it has a large impact on brain stem growth. With the incorporation of music in a student’s daily life, the brain stem’s responses become more robust (Brown). Therefore, the amount of brain stem growth correlates with recent musical training. As stated by Brown, an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore, “student’s that are involved with a large amount of music will see more gains in brain stem growth”. Furthermore, the neural changes that occur in students as adolescents stay with them into adulthood (“Music Matters”). This allows students to be more prepared once they go into the workforce as adults. Along with the brain stem’s responses being more robust, it’s sensitivity to sound increases (“The Benefits” 1). This is abundantly evident from early on, as mother’s sing to their infants to facilitate brain stimulation and development. Enrichment through music, starting at a young age, seems to improve individuals speech sound development and use of more advanced vocabulary. Adolescents’ language also improves with the use of music in a student’s academics (Miller 46). Luehrisen

One thing that over the years I’ve become very good at is learning how to play many musical instruments. The different factors and components of this learning process include learning music theory, learning the basics of an instrument and how to apply different skills to various types of instruments such as string, brass, percussion and wind. Some of the instruments that I have learned are piano, organ, harpsichord, keyboard, guitar, bass, mandolin, trombone, cello, banjo, harmonica and soon the fiddle. Each of these different types of instruments required a different basic skill set.