Music Education
Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “Without music, life would be a mistake”. Music is almost as old as the human race and is as much a part of it as anything. So why would anyone choose to get rid of it? An Increasing number of schools across the nation are deciding to cut music education programs. This includes band, orchestra, choir, and general music classes. In 1991, 55.4 percent of public school eighth-graders took part in music classes at school. In 2004, this figure was just 49.1 percent. Money plays a huge role in this statistic: “...when funds are scarce, arts courses are usually the first to be dropped from a school’s curriculum” (“Arts Education”). While many argue that music education is an unnecessary cost for schools, it improves student’s overall well being.
The academic benefits of music education are immense. In a study by Shirley Brice Heath, a researcher at Stanford University and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, students with at least three hours of participation in the arts, three days a week for at least a year are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement (Ford, AdamMcMahon, Maureen). Students in music excel in core subjects such as math, English, and science. In 1997, the College Board produced a study, revealing that students with at least four years of music education scored an average of 49 points higher on the verbal section of the SAT and 34 points higher of the math section (“Arts Education”). These days, this is the difference between being accepted to a college and not.
Music education reinforces creativity and better behavior in children. To play notes on the page is one thing, but to play beyond it, to express the m...
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...know until they have tried it? “Given the opportunity, every human being is a musician, at some level” (“EDITORIAL”).
Music education plays an enormous role in student’s overall well being, outweighing the costs of it. In 1994, Congress passed the Improving America’s Schools Act, concluding that “...the arts are forms of understanding and ways of knowing that are fundamentally important to education” (Ford, AdamMcMahon, Maureen). Congress recognized the importance of music education. Now the effort must be made to make a difference. If people really do want the best for the future, music education is key. Ramon Cortines, former chancellor of the New York City public schools stated, “We engage in the arts, we ought to teach the arts, because this is part of what it means to be human” (“Arts Education”). When people eventually realize this, the benefits will be vast.
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.
We are all familiar with the way children interact and play together. Through these interactions, it is clear to see their curiosity, energetic attitude, and friendliness. However there is one important part of their interactions that is overlooked. We often do not think much of kids humming a tune or combining small syllables into a little song, but if we paid close attention, we could see how music is so thoroughly integrated into a child’s life. After reading “Songs in Their Heads: Music and its Meaning in Children’s Lives” by Patricia Shehan Campbell, it became clear to me how children have a concept of music from such a young age, and in a lot of cases, their knowledge of music is not taught to them through school.
The budget for schools were reduced from $68.2 billion dollars to $59.0 billion in one year. With a $9.2 billion dollar cut in budget, schools will have to have sacrifices, and “with current state standardized testing and requirements for academic standards, core curricular classes will always be safe” (Dickson) music programs are the first to go. Music programs are not courses that get tested in, so they are not seen as an important factor to school boards. But when classes that do not have the rigor of other subjects they are not seen as crucial to the academics of a student. With the funds cut for schools, and the money still needed for books and paychecks for teachers, there are other ways to earn money for extracurricular activities like band or choir. “While music programs saw an average budget increase of 11 percent during the 1994-95 year, more than half of that now comes from outside fundraising” (Archer), like car washes, coupon cards, and bake sales. While band and choir take up lots of funds, for instruments, uniforms or robes, and trips the group may go on, fundraising takes most of the costs away. With fundraising, costs for music programs will not be as much as they would be without it. The students get more out of fundraising than they would with it being just a class where they studied and got homework. Music gives them ways to actively see what it is like to perform in front of the community as well as
..., D. (1993). Music and the Mind. MENC, Retrieved August 25, 2003 from MENC, Academic Achievement and Music database.
Before addressing the need for music instruction in our schools I would like to briefly examine the need for education of any kind. Education is a means of making sure our society has a given set of knowledge. The set of knowledge we perceive ourselves as needing changes based on our surroundings and the issues we are dealing with. In American education's early history we perceived ourselves as needing a set of knowledge that included a common language and common view of history, as well as knowledge of those things with which we would interact every day. In many ways early public education was more a means of social control than an altruistic endeavor. In today's climate we see ourselves as having more diverse needs in our education...
Much too often in America today, modern music and art programs in schools are perceived to many as extracurricular activities rather than important subjects that are vital to a students learning and skill development. The truth of the matter is that encouraging music and art education in public schools has a much larger impact on student’s grades, academic performance, and the economy than the majority people realize. Within the next year city school budgets will be dropping by twenty five percent, and despite the fact that music and art programs have been showing a dramatic contribution to student’s learning, this substantial drop in funding for the programs will lead to no dedicated money for art or music programs (Mezzacappa). There is no doubt that a cut in funding for art programs will take a huge toll on students overall grades and test scores. Research has found that the studying of music and art facilitates learning in other subjects and enhances children’s skills in other areas (Brown). Furthermore, providing students with a creative outlet can do great justice in reducing the stress from many other classes and even offer insight for students in possible career paths involving the art field. The art industry today currently supports 4.1 million full-time jobs (Dorfman). By increasing the funding of music and art programs for students preschool through twelfth grade we can see a dramatic increase in the education of children across the United States, assist with skill development in young students, and greatly benefit the economy at the same time.
The position that is being argued is that music should stay in schools. This author is making the claim that music makes children excel in their education. This author uses many different sources. The author relies mainly on studies to back up his argument. The article is recent.
Music As A Social Praxis." Music Education Research 15.4 (2013): 455-470. Education Research Complete. Web. 7 Apr. 2014.
Involvement in music during high school leads to higher test scores. A group of students involve in music lessons scored higher on a mathematics achievement test than the students
middle of paper ... ... Music was not taught in the high school I was in. To satisfy my interest in learning about music and how to play musical instruments, I had to find a source of education other than school; a great depiction in agreement with Graff’s claim that students are being limited by not considering their interests when creating curricula (Graff 197). In conclusion, education is broader than just falling into what the contemporary school system has to offer. Both Gatto and Graff proved this by explaining how conforming students to certain perspectives of education limits their potential in other educational branches that interest the students.
The Importance of Arts Education Jane Alexander, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), once said, “Many children are missing out on something which gives their education context, gives their lives depth and meaning, and prepares them to be the future workforce.” This “something” that she spoke of is music and art education. Unfortunately, she is entirely correct. We are currently seeing a dramatic cut in arts education curriculum in our public schools due to the limited amount of time and funding. In many cases, budget cutbacks mean arts education cutbacks.
“Oh no; The dreaded sight reading music!” fretted an inexperienced musician. Have no fear; an experienced musician is here to help! To an inexperienced musician, sight reading music can seem like a nightmare. It can even make an experienced musician get the goose bumps. Throughout a band student’s high school career and into their college career, they will have to sight read music.
Even when children learn music they able to listen, sing, dance, create movement. Listening to music draw out emotions, and playing music can be just like communicating emotions. Some people find this a very powerful experience. “ Music enriches the lives of students and should be considered a necessary part of education.”
In, “Doing things with Music,” it states that music is a crucial tool for cultivating and regulating our social life (3). Without music, the many young lives would indeed dramatically change in the ability to sensitively relate to and communicate with others. Especially, when one is playing with a large group of people, it involves teamwork teaching the children that musicians negotiate over how to play a passage, when to play their part, coming to a group decision, disagreeing, and resolving a conflict peacefully, without resorting to bullying, and name-calling. As explained in, “Child Growth and Development Through Music,” it discusses that by having musical training background, experience, and technical insights gained earlier puts the child in a good position for future progress (61). This allows for participation in various musical activities and provide opportunities to discover talent and develop special interests.
Many children struggle with subjects in school that they need help on and time is all they need to study and work on their studies. Music programs may put a lot on a child’s tight schedule and cause stress. Music programs shouldn’t be forced into anyone’s education especially if they didn’t choose it. Music programs cause way to much stress, requires money to be spent, and adds on to their responsibilities. Kids shouldn’t be forced to do something they don’t want. They should have a choice.