Why does music education matter?

Since the beginning of our existence, the significant factor separating humankind from other animals is the intelligence and desire to express the human spirit. Music stands as one of the prominent creative expressions that unites all of humans from the past, present, and future. Through music, we are all connected to the thoughts and emotions of many cultures and historicals events long past. Studying musical works throughout historical events can help us garner more understanding of the culture or insights into the thought process of the people living through that time. All of these would not be possible if humans did not have music to express their own individualistic characteristics.

Music has shaped my life and the relationships within them through extraordinary means. My fathers passion for music bled into my life and love for music. This shared connection helped push me through difficult times, and motivated me to work to achieve greater than I expected of myself. This experience is what I want for my students, and I know that music is the key to unlock these opportunities. While teaching music to students, I have seen first hand how this artform has such an impact on everyday students. I have seen student’s entire weeks been turned around because of one good music class. Allowing students these opportunities for both emotional and professional development is paramount to the continuation of a well-educated population.

There are also immense academic benefits to studying music, especially at the high school level. Researcher Peter Gouzouasis states in his findings that students who enroll in music class perform exceptionally higher than their non-musician peers. (Gouzouasis) These benefits echo through the rest of their classes thanks to the tenets taught within music classes such as band or choir. Music teaches dedication, perseverance, attention to detail, community, cooperation, and countless other benefits. These characteristics that are instilled in students from the beginning of music classes translate to direct achievement in their foundational classes. Music is used to study the language arts of cultures and the historical events they lived through. We have used music theory to explain the math and science behind why and how music works, and have made significant scientific achievements using our understanding of music.

Some detractors may argue that music does not need to siphon funds from public education, and that these institutions should save the money and reinvest it into other academic programs. This argument plainly fails to accept the numerous studies indicating the multitude of benefits to the students who enroll in music. It is also pertinent to remember that there is much more to education than just the academic aspect of school. Students should be enrolled in school to develop into well-rounded functioning members of society. This means that just as intelligence is something that humans have cultivated, our creative expression of our shared experiences help set us apart from other intelligent animals. We are more than the collection of scientific information we have collected, and we must never forget that.

With all of these truths laid bare, it is incredibly plain to see that music education remains paramount and critical for a truly developed society. To say otherwise, would be ignorant of the scientific benefits that are inarguable. Music must continue to be offered and treated with the same reverence that our core studies are given. To benefit the entirety of the student Students will encounter music every day of their life, and to be left with no fundamental understanding of this will be leveling a disservice to all students and society as a whole.