The Role and Value of Music and Movement in the Early Years

Music during the progressed quite a bit over time. It all started out with a less complex type of music known as ragtime. Ragtime was popular from around the 1890’s through 1915. Ragtime originated from the

Plato once said, “Music Gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” Music has touched the human soul since the dawn of time. In the Bible times, music was directly related to the worship of God. For example, David the Psalms talks about dancing and music to praise God with the “lute, and cymbal”. Music, like much of everything else, has been affected due to the fall. Music was still mostly used for worship and praise of God until the early 1800’s. Between the 16th and 18th Century the classical genera of music evolved greatly. Bach, Mozart, and Vivaldi all wrote music within the classical genera, but within different eras of classical 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.

Flora also spoke of the life lessons and skills that being involved in a strong music program has taught her, many of which have been studied and proven (Flora). Flora reported an increase in her self-esteem and a sense of belonging after becoming a part of her school’s music program (Flora). Studies have indeed shown that the arts give children something in which to take pride, which in turn boosts self-esteem and self-confidence (Lock).

“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

Music is something we cannot escape, it is around us all hours of every day. Music is thought to have been around even before mankind existed. Historiographers state that there are six music periods. Each period of music has a distinct style and sound. With every period, technology advanced, and more instruments were created.

* ““95% percent of Americans believe that music is a key-component in a child’s well-rounded education, 80% percent of respondents agreed that music makes the participants smarter; 78% believe that learning a musical instrument helps students perform better in other subject areas; and 88% believe participation in music helps teach children discipline” (Hurley 3),” (par 1).

Studies show that music appears to support kids’ normal skills to interpret sounds and words. Learning to read and play music, appears to be related to an amount of assistance for kids, including improved processing of language and better reading skills. Music exercise in kids play develop key skills that will aid them in listening, attention, remembrance, and reading skills. Lisa Miller thinks,” in Europe was as crucial to becoming a cultivated person as knowing the works of Mozart or Rembrandt” ( ). Music is a foundation of human culture; it is a learning device, a way of communication, and, a way of

As the article progresses Mrs. Smith begins to tell us stories of other classrooms where children as young as elementary school are learning to compose rhythms and progressively add notes pleasing to the ear. Middle schoolers learning to add dynamics to their piece of music! I certainly believe these children are ahead of the game and will be extremely successful if they decide to pursue music.

Music has probably been around since the beginning of times. Before instruments, sounds were considered music. People started to make instruments, which mimic nature’s sounds.

The author did multiple interviews with children ranging from 4 to 12 years old which were randomly picked either by volunteering, music teacher pick, or classroom teacher pick. The author was interested in a random sample which would hopefully be representative of children as a population. There were sixy-two interviews with children and fifteen of the conversations were included in the book.

Music has been around for thousands of years. Edward Bailey Birge, former Indiana University music professor, and author of the History of Public School Music in the United States, credits Lowell Mason (a leading figure of American church music) for beginning music education in America back in the 1830’s. Mason helped spread Bostons teaching of music education. From the 1830’s until the late 1920’s music education didn’t receive much attention. Though the subject was acknowledged in some schools across the country students did not have access to a proper music education. That was until the late 1920’s Edward Bailey Birge began the fight for music education. Along with being an auth Birge was also a founding member of the Music Supervisors National

Music dates back to when cavemen roamed the land. Many scientist believe the first musical instrument was a hollow stick which one would blow in and a sound would come out. Music is many words spoken at a rhythm to show emotion. Music is in many cultures throughout history. In 2500 BCE an early trumpet was made. The guitar was made in the 1500 BCE by the Hittites. Nowadays there are hundreds if not even thousands of types of music. Music will continue to change throughout history.

This is evident in the eyes of musician and educator Christopher Small, who determines that this movement amalgamates to the way in which we “take part in musical performance, in any capacity, whether by performing, by listening, by rehearsing or practicing, by providing

While music has kept a steady definition through time, modern music has been re-invented and re-made to be distant from that of an older age. Music has always been around, just remixed as time goes on. We know that it has been around for a while because geologists have found cave paintings dating back to prehistoric ages where they are depicting people dancing, proving to a presence of some interpretation of music. Music was