Thate music. Music is useless and worthless. Why do we even have music? Were you offended or, if not, struck by these statements? We’re forced to evaluate the significant importance and presence of music in society, especially today with advancing technology. We are conscious of the presence of music by today’s typical teenager who is imagined with a cellphone in his/her hand and headphones in his/her ears listening to the sounds(or noise) of today’s music. Music surrounds us from the concert halls to the train stations. It is everywhere and universal.
Beethoven to The Beatles to Taylor Swift are just a few well known examples of the universal presence and importance of music in that they have become general knowledge to the average American. In addition to its wide known presence, music is often known for its positive benefits such as healing, elevating moods and reducing stress. Through this music has become socially accepted to be a positive and beneficial thing. However, although music is present everywhere in society and has proven to be valuable in more than one way, schools proceed to cut music programs first due to budget cuts and the higher cost of non-core classes per student.
Prior to budget cuts, from 1999-2000 and 2009-2010, 94% of schools had music programs. However, starting from next year many elementary schools will not have a music class. When dealing with budget cuts, schools unfortunately put better scores on standardized testing over music programs, mistakenly or selfishly thinking the latter is more profitable. In reality, music education develops important lifelong traits necessary for being successful in life and provides both enriching and recreation opportunities.
In keeping music education, it would not only benefit the student as a whole but also the school and the world as a result. The things gained from music will far more impact the lives of students rather than a good test score, which promotes limited thinking and is impractical to use in the real world. Although music programs cost slightly more, the benefits outweigh the consequences. Although the learning and mastery of an instrument or voice is a treasure in itself, it is the traits and disciplines that are essential to being successful that person learns and develops from music that are the most valuable and precious.
Indeed, music helps to develop self-discipline and perseverance through repeated practice alone and participation in ensembles. It also helps to develop teamwork and cooperation through working in ensembles to create the best performance possible. Music is also unique in that students work with the teacher while under their instruction. Although music teachers still have a leadership position by being the conductor, they work alongside students in creating music by understanding the students’ styles and listening to the suggestions of the students.
In turn, the students listen to their teacher so that they can improve and play together as a band, orchestra or choir. Music also enhances cultivates creativity and problem solving as it presents different problems than those of the classroom such as difficult rhythms. Students must view things in a different perspective and use different skills to solve musical problems such as clapping out the rhythm or breaking down the section in the song. Students also cultivate creativity in developing their own unique interpretation of the music.
As a result, a solid foundation of these qualities best prepare the individual for working in any environment, from fast-paced and stressful to relaxed and comfortable, or solve any situation or crisis in life. Indeed,”These qualities are all highly sought out in the workplace. Creativity, for example, is, “one of the top-five skills important for success in the workforce”(Kalivretenos, 2015, para. 7). Likewise, these qualities not only help in the workplace but also in school.
Although it is widely known how music creates better students, the reason why is often a misconception. It is generally thought that the physical aspect of music makes you smarter or, in other words, that simply listening or playing music will make you smarter such as the Mozart effect(Brown,n. d. ). The Mozart effect indicates that children under the age of three who listen to the music of Mozart will have an increase in brain development. However, it is the qualities learned from music that help the individual become a better student and increase their scores.
Any student can loosely become a “musician”, however, these “musicians” don’t become good students as they don’t commit time and patience to master the instrument or song. As a result, they don’t reap the benefits as the traits of a dedicated musician is strongly related to being a successful student. Not surprisingly, you’ll find most often the most dedicated musicians to also be good students. As the people who play music develop these qualities, we begin to see prominent and positive effects and benefits for the individual, school and the world.
First, “Because of music’s ability to relax, calm and heal, and its optimal platform for emotions, the involvement with music helps to carve brighter attitudes – more optimism towards the future, less TV and non productive activities, low use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs and desire to develop individual abilities”(Droscher, n. d. Music Education Benefits section, para. 7). Musicians have a better outlook and attitude toward life as music provides an opportunity to better oneself as well as to keep away from potentially destructive influences and activities.
Second, musicians become significantly better academically. “A study published in 2007 by Christopher Johnson, professor of music education and music therapy at the University of Kansas, revealed that students in elementary schools with superior music education programs scored around 22 percent higher in English and 20 percent higher in math scores on standardized tests, compared to schools with lowquality music programs, regardless of socioeconomic disparities among the schools or school districts”(Brown, n. d. Improved Test Scores section, para. 1). In addition, a ten year study of over 5,000 middle and high school students showed that musical students scored 63 points higher, on average, on the verbal section and 44 points higher on the math section of the SATS than non-music students(Kalivretenos,2015).
The effect of music is evident on academics. Individuals are not the only ones who are impacted. Schools also benefit as a result of the individuals who are impacted by music. Schools experience less of students who are classified as “disruptive” as the “discipline of music helps students work effectively in the school environment without resorting to violent or inappropriate behavior” (Droscher, n. . Entrance Examination Board, 2001 section para. 1). In fact, only 8. 08 percent of music students meet that classification. In addition, schools gain better test scores and grades in which they can gain the benefits. In raising a responsible and prepared generation, the world also benefits in decreases of crime, war and disease. A more creative and intelligent people results in new, beneficial technology that will result in a better world. Although music provides many benefits, just as any subject or activity music should be provided for personal recreation and passion.
Many people who play an instrument or sing often don’t have the mindset to pursue music as a career but to simply engage in something they have a passion for. Music wasn’t created to be measured by academic standards. It was meant to be danced to, to calm the soul and to express feelings. It was created simply for pleasure and as another expression of human feelings. Music for music’s sake. Isn’t the purpose of schools not only to educate but also enrich students with diverse experiences? So how can we deny this opportunity to let students discover what they love and grow in such a critical moment in their lives?
People differ in their passions from sports to chess club to theatre(Catterall, n. d. ). Today’s society especially idolizes and glorifies sports. Often, sports are considered more important than music although both are ways of pursuing passions and have positive benefits. In the same way that sports are celebrated so should music as “the arts promote more success than athletics in college”(Catterall, n. d. , para. 20). Music should also be provided as a recreation as it helps develop an individual’s self-identity and character. An individual’s childhood is one of the most impactful things on their life, character and attitude.
By providing a passion that individuals can invest in and benefit from lives are changed for the good, especially for those in low income schools. Those in low income schools suffer the most from budget cuts as it snatches more of their limited music programs away. Pursuing a hobby or activity prevents these students from engaging in illegal activities, drugs or alcohol, which are common among poor areas. In music, students obtain a break from reality. They find confidence and accomplishment in themselves in the music that they create. In music, they are able to express words and feelings not easily told.
In music, they find who they are in how they communicate and work with people of similar interests and respond to difficulty. Although many will not pursue music as a career, music will forever impact them. Today’s society is disintegrating. This is evident by increases in crime, wars and corruption which is due to a lack of good leaders and morally upright citizens. Our present condition will only worsen if nothing is done to prevent it. The first step in restoring society is in raising strong and able generations that will provide a wise course of action to restore society to its original glory.
This can be done by providing music education. Music education will raise better generations by instilling important lifelong qualities that benefit both the individual and the world and enriching the mind with diverse experiences. Music will raise smarter, more confident and creative generations that will impact the world. Again, how I hate music. I hate how it changes the lives of people. I hate how it can’t easily be described in words but felt so intensely in the soul. I hate how it will one day save the world.
