Role of Music

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.

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.

Whether you play a musical instrument, or listen to it, it can have great influence in how a person can learn like a song to help them learn a certain order of words for a test. Mary points out that learning how to play music isn’t easy. However, after a student learns how to play, it usually brings joy to the individual and the people around them. Some tests have shown that students who have music in their lives do better academically. Students once again apply the elements of self-control and discipline into other classes. Music can affect a student’s social stand point as well. Music connects individuals, groups and even also connects countries. There are organizations that take students worldwide to share music. In sum music plays a key role not only in education, but in strengthening soul and emotional bonds amongst people in general. Music has integrated itself into the human life so much that it is imperative for us to survive because of the mind-set, relief it brings, and the spiritual side to it.

Opening the invigorating article, “Why Music Education? 2007” having so many atrocities pulling the world apart, music is a great way for bringing people together (9).

In the last decade, there has been much debate over the value of musical training in schools. Although some people claim that music education in schools is a waste of time and resources, research has found that musical training can improve various cognitive processes and skills, such as the development of language, reasoning, pattern recognition, and memory. These skills can translate into other school subjects as well. This paper explores the relationship between music and perceptions and emotional responses, and also examines the cognitive benefits of musical training.

To many people, music is a significant part to their daily lives and its role varies depending on the individual. I personally use music as a form of escape from reality and a tool to help me focus in certain situations. Other use music as an entertainer, an energizer, a coping mechanism or even as a stimulant. Due to this, music is able to play a developmental role in creating one’s identity.

Many people believe that the arts and music hold no beneficial value to students other than for an extracurricular activity. Some believe that there are not benefits and that it is a waste of time. However, research has shown that music education provides great benefits and values to the adolescents that are involved in their schools music program (“Music Matters”). Music plays a large role in the advancement of academic scores and allows juveniles to express themselves in an inspiring way. Music helps students to become successful later in life and goes to show that music is an important aspect in many adolescents lives. Music education may provide important benefits towards students’ academics by improving their concentration levels and cultivating higher order thinking skills that may increase academic achievement.

Music is anything that produces sound in which creates a certain tune with or without harmony. For most people, music generates a cause of relaxation wherein it creates an ambience that is gratifying to our mind. According to O’Brien (1987), the dominant purposes why music is agreeable for many is that it regales, builds disposition and used in occasions. It also contributes to the development of our character and personality regarding how we behave or act with others. Moreover, learning music enhances our knowledge, imaginative, communal and personal aspects (Hallam, 2010; Kaschub et. al., 2009).

Gouzouasis, P., Guhn, M., & Kishor, N. (2007, March). The predicative relationship between achievement and participation in music and achievement in core Grade 12 academic subjects. Music Education Research, 9(1), 81-92. doi:10.1090/14613800601127569. Peter Gouzouasis, Martin Guhn, and Nand Kishor, professors at the University of British Columbia, assert that art subjects are a great potential partner for academic studies because many of the skills one acquires from a music class are transferable to academic skills. They deliver their compelling argument through deductive reasoning and empirical research. To elaborate, they begin by discussing how little research has been done to support the theory that music skills benefit students academically; and then conduct their own experiment on 11th graders involved in music courses to predict the students’ scores as 12th graders. They then provide their empirical findings which show their scores to be considerably higher than non-music participants, by doing this they show readers hard evidence that proves their assertion. They do this to appeal to the reader's sense of logic in order to persuade them to realize the importance of music not only for its intricate beauty but for its blatant advantages it gives to students academically. The intended audience for this paper would be school administration and music educators because the authors urge administrators to see the benefits of music, while stating that music educators must be

Music education is the study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It includes the appreciation and sensitivity of music which helps in the development of the affective domain. The involvement of music is a fundamental component to human’s behaviour and culture. Today, many country provide music education from preschool through postsecondary as the result of music education have brought many benefits in a way such as the children’s concentration, their logic and problem-solving skills, their communication, their emotional intelligence and their cultural understanding. (Hermann Hudde) Music education had been playing an important role in building the interpersonal and intrapersonal ability of oneself.

Music is a form of art and cultural activity whose medium is sound and must be organized in time. In many cultures, music is part of the people's way of life and is used in religious rituals, rites of passage, social and cultural activities. Most people make music as their hobby or work as a professional singers. The music industry include, people who create songs, individuals who perform music, those who record it, individuals who organize concerts and those who sell the recordings to customers. On the other hand, business administration is a discipline which is set to provide an individual or a group of people with knowledge in core business areas of finance and management. As a result music therefore as a means of livelihood for a number of people who take it up a professional career, like any venture that creates income, the management of the music industry therefore, will require business administration skills to ensure the industry’s stability and productivity.

Music has been one of the most fundamental elements of human life for more than 55,000 years. In the middle ages, monks sung scripture to enhance the Catholic services. During the Renaissance period composers wrote instrumental music to create deeper emotion through lyrics in song. Since ancient times instruments and song have greatly influenced culture and the lives of those who participated in it. Aristotle once said, “ music makes the hearts of men glad so that on this ground alone we may assume that the young ought to be trained in it.” Although many people believe that music lessons are a waste of time and money, there are many academic, social, emotional, and developmental benefits to learning an instrument.

“Music is a moral law. It gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, charm to sadness, gaiety to life and to everything” (Plato). Music is a way for people to communicate their feelings. This expression can come through playing an instrument, singing a song or even listen to other people's music. As a music educator one has the responsibility to shape and nurture people's need for music. Musical education can be one of the most influential forms of education, because of the direct way music impacts our lives. When one is going into music education they must analyze the benefits for oneself, the advancement of those being taught and the contribution to and from the community.

Over the years music education in schools has dropped dramatically for more reasons than one. Now, students are required to take little to no music classes throughout their schooling year which is causing the drive and ambition about school from students to decrease significantly. After analyzing several experiments, documents, and scholarly journals research discovered that the decrease in music education has affected students on all levels of their education. From elementary school all the way through the student’s final years in high school. This decrease has affected students with techniques such as memorization, motivation, self-confidence, and many more. On the other hand, some might say that not everyone likes music and some people’s learning styles don’t require any music education to help them succeed. This is true but the overall majority of the population of students has been affected due to the decrease of music education in schools. Due to the fact that music education is plummeting, the overall education and productivity of students is decreasing.

Music is prevalent, so that it is extremely easy to find a place or situation with music played on. Not only does people enjoy music when they dance or sing, throw parties, but also they enjoy music when they drive, study or work. In other words, people live with music and music is an everyday thing. They, contrarily, think that the pieces of music are distractors when they need to concentrate on their works. This is why, especially, most of parents and teachers do not allow their children and students to listen to music while they study. In addition, many employers consider that their employees are not doing work when they are putting earphones on and listening to music. In fact, the music is not an absolute distractor and music itself does not disturb concentration of people but other factors do.