Educational Music Programs example essay topic

Plato once said, "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination... and life to everything". It is important for every student to receive a worthwhile education. We all agree that basic subjects such as mathematics, history, science, and language are very important parts of the curriculum, but most tend to forget about another important part: music education. Music is a very important part of every student's education.

According to the Music Educator's Journal, beginning more than 150 years ago, the importance of music in America's schools was emphasized by the efforts of what many call "the Father of Music Education", Lowell Mason. Lowell Mason was certainly one of the most effective advocates for public school music education. Music should not be viewed as just an extracurricular activity. Today, I would like to talk about why music should be considered a very important part of the education curriculum at all of America's schools and why funding is just as important for music programs as it is for sports and other activities.

Music should be considered a very important part of the education curriculum program at all of America's schools. Lowell Mason believed that music was a gift from God and that it had to be nourished in education in order to reach the rest of the world. He played a very important part in getting music education recognized as an important part of a child's education throughout the United States. The College Board identifies the arts as one of the six basic academic subject areas students should study in order to succeed in college. Arts education also brings together varied cultural and diverse ethnicity, thereby expanding the walk of every classroom. The great thing about music is that it benefits the students in all of their classes.

Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and by studying music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills and experience the world from a new perspective. Another benefit to having music education in schools is that music unites both hemispheres of the brain, allowing it to focus more clearly and therefor making learning easier for the students. According to Carol Pemberton, the left hemisphere of the brain analyzes the structure of music, while the right hemisphere focuses on the melody. Any teaching strategy, such as music, that integrates the functions of both hemispheres makes learning easier, faster, and more fun. The hemispheres of the brain work together when emotions are stimulated, attention focused, and motivation heightened. The great concentration required by music students allows the students to have a better chance of learning and retaining information in all of their classes.

According to the 1994 Gallup Survey, music in the classroom also reduces stress, increases productivity, regulates energy, and creates a relaxed, supportive learning environment. Although music is an apparently important part of schools in America and important to the students involved in the music classes, many music programs are lost due to government mandated funding cuts. Many schools elect to spend the money that they have on other things, mainly sports, instead of educational music programs. In communities across the country, school-funding legislation is making the difference in whether local schools are able to offer an effective music program or even if they offer one at all.

Lack of funds, lost teachers, and shorter days are forcing administrators to make students choose between band, choir, and classes other than music. The 1994 Gallup survey indicated that 93% of respondents agreed that music is part of a well-rounded education, 86% felt all schools should offer instrumental music as part of the regular curriculum, and 85% believe communities should provide financial resources to help these programs. Although music programs are being cut, there are still things that we can do to help prevent their disintegration. A letter-writing campaign in the Jefferson County School District, the largest in Colorado, contributed to the reversal of a proposed cut of instrumental music programs, according to the Music Educator's Journal. The journal also stated that the signature drive that began last September and ended in late February accumulated nearly a quarter of a million signatures. The drive sought to demonstrate the unrecognized national support for music education.

When a group of people come together to work towards saving music programs, it is unbelievable the amount of power that they can have. Simply getting several thousand people to sign a petition in favor of music education has the power to keep music education in our schools. It is still possible to save and reinstate music programs in our schools if we would just stand up and speak out for what we think is important for our children and their futures. In conclusion, I hope you realize the need to keep music education in our schools and will continue the fight against budget cuts that rob our children of intelligence, culture, and the development they need to function successfully in society. Just remember what T.S. Elliot once said; "You are the music while the music lasts.".