Music Education in Schools
Music is an important part of our life.
An art, music is its own language; it’s a universal language that anyone can understand. No matter how different music is around the world, it serves a common purpose of bringing people together. Music allows us to express ourselves and exposes our emotions because there is always a song for every situation. Music is an important part of our society today because it tells a story, releases emotion, and breaks down barriers. Most importantly, music is entertaining.Many schools, however, have been forced to drop music programs as a result of budget cuts. Eliminating music programs from school can have a negative effect on our children, immediately and long-term.
There are several benefits previous generation of school children have enjoyed with having music programs throughout their early years of education. As human beings we are first introduced to music before birth. A fetus is exposed to the art of music by hearing the beating of the mother’s heart. Once born, an infant continues to be exposed to music. It is common for parents to sing to their newborn at bedtime.Many toys and televisions programs aimed at infants play music, to which they respond by moving their arms and legs. Once babies start learning their first words many begin to sing phrases of familiar songs, even though they might not know what it means.
During this process a child starts to repeat familiar phrases and slowly begins to learn and build vocabulary (Gallien). Even before children have been enrolled in school, they have already had a lot of exposure to music in their lives. While children have had great exposure to music prior to school, few have learned about the art of music.This is what music programs in school are designed to do. In doing so, kids develop and enhance skills that makes them better students and better individuals in the future. MENC: The National Association for Music Education has a list of twelve benefits associated with music education. In summary, the list emphasizes the importance of music education as a mean to enhance skills, develop creativity and create success in life.
One of the most important reasons for music in schools is its ability to help develop perceptual skills necessary in many academic subjects.This has to do with musical training helping develop the area of the brain associated with language and reasoning. With music education students are also developing critical thinking skills. With this students improve in other areas of reading, writing, and math. Like math, there is also logic involved in music. Playing musical instruments has been statistically proven to enhance children’s abilities to solve math problems. Children who are involved in music excel more than those who don’t participate in music.
Research has shown that many students who have been involved with music in school are more successful in standardize test.In all, the study of music opens up a new world for children, as do the study of reading, writing, and arithmetic (Rewko). Since music is an art, music education forces students to actively be creative and use their imagination. This tumbles into other subjects, where students can also use their creativity and imagination to help them solve problems. This can help students in school as they learn new material and are challenged with standardized exams. Music education also helps students stay in school. Children that are exposed to music education during childhood are more likely to go on to college after high school.
When schools cut back on music educations they are also indirectly increasing the chances of more students dropping out before graduating high school. This in effect makes it more difficult for these young adults to compete in the job market against their peers that have a college education. Therefore, an early presence of music education in school can greatly affect the future of children. Music education can also help children with social development. One of the great things about music is the ability to collaborate with others. Music education encourages collaboration between children.Students learn how to play different instruments and come together to collaborate in songs.
Music programs in schools have choir groups and bands, forcing and teaching students how to work as teams. Teamwork is very important in life and music education provides a great platform to introduce children to working together. Another social development factor is understanding culture. When collaborating with others to create music students are exposed to different cultures. During this process students not only share music ideas, but also parts of their own cultures. The sharing of ideas exposes students to new things.This is one of the many reasons students in music programs are more likely to try new things, compared to those who don’t have a music education.
Organizational and time-management skills are also developed through music education. Music requires a lot of practice outside of school in order to perfect the instrument. This allows children to use more of their brain and help the development of it. As children learn to commit to this routine of daily practicing music to become better artist, they will also apply these skills of organization and time-management to other aspects of their daily life.This will make them better students in schools and better individuals in society. Being part of choir or band also teaches responsibility. Even if a student is not involved in choir or band, a music class also requires responsibility skills.
Children in music classes are responsible for going home and continue practice of the musical training they had in the classroom. When a student becomes a member of a choir or band, they must make sure they show up for rehearsals. Just like stretching before exercise prepares our muscles for a proper workout, music can also help the brain prepare for critical thinking and problem solving.Since music is able to connect with people in an emotional way, it allows the brain to start thinking as soon as you start listening to a song or start playing an instrument. Music is also very important in our pop culture. A music education can help children better understand how music is produce and the talent behind every song. Children that learn to understand music and grow-up with an appreciation for it will fit in well and succeed in society that is based on music (TRF).
One of the greatest benefits of a music education for children is how well it prepares them for their lives after school.Teamwork, time-management, and being responsible are all skills that are important factors for companies when hiring new employees. Relationships in life require commitment and teamwork, just like music. Most important, becoming a parent also requires skills such as responsibility, commitment and time-management. In all, skills that musical training develops early on in children will stay with them throughout life and help them become better individuals. Music has been proven to have a great influence on a child’s success in school, social growth, and basic skills that are important to a child’s future.Years of research have provided proof and results that when a child is exposed to music education they are most likely to success in other subjects in skills.
Research also shows that young adults involved with music are less likely to have disciple problems. Even college admissions officers know the importance of music in a child’s education. Participation in the arts and music, just like GPA and test scores, is an important factor in making admission decisions for a lot of colleges. There are many reasons why music education is important for children. The most important reason in education it’s the most simply.Music education is fun. Music is important in a student’s curriculum.
School officials are harming children by cutting music education. The benefits are far greater than any reason against cutting these programs from schools. A better society depends on the future of our children and music can have a positive influence on the future of our children.
