Why Music Education Is Essential + One Very Inspiring Video
"Music, the great communicator..." - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Everyone has their own relationship with music. Mine is quite passionate and emotional. I can't get through a day without it and songs, bands, and albums always become a part of me if I really embrace them. I associate times in my life with the moments I heard the music for the first time, relied on it, and related to the tunes that I treasure. Music is explosive and amazing!
Perhaps it is my love affair with the art of sound, rhythm, melody and harmony that makes it so hard to fathom the reality of its place in our educational system these days. Public schools in the United States are facing major crises in the wake of the withering economy and in most states, seem to be taking it out on many facets of curriculum, including music education. In California, where we live, the state's educational system is reeling from an $8.6 billion cut, which includes thousands of teacher and staff layoffs; not to mention important programs, like music education, being obliterated across the board.
Students are being denied this incredible area of learning that not only contributes to a fondness and appreciation of the arts, but also forsakes important relationships between student and instrument, as well as student and teacher; and for those with the drive to perform, denies a student the experience of an audience as well.
What can we do to make a difference? As with everything else, it takes time, effort, planning and a desire to make a change. I believe that knowledge is key in almost every facet of rousing awareness and activism. So talk to fellow students, parents and teachers; circulate petitions; write letters and talk to administrators; attend district board meetings; and if possible, get the media's attention and enable your voice to be heard.
Brynn rockin' outEven if our efforts fail, it is certainly worth the fight. And if our children do have to live with a lack of formal music education during their school years, we need to take it upon ourselves to still introduce it into our homes. All three of our kids have taken music lessons and at various times been enthralled with their instruments. Our daughter, Brynn, is an outstanding guitar player (yes, I'm a proud mom) and lucky for us, fills our home with the sounds of her talent daily. She also plays in a band with two other gifted musicians and has played several local gigs recently. Though Aidan and Shea don't share in her total dedication at the moment, they are avid music fans, each with their own genre appreciations and I am always thrilled to hear it blasting from their computer or stereos. Music in the house just makes me smile!!
If there ever was an example of how important music education can be, get a load of THIS wonderfully inspiring video. Enjoy!
Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 9:23AM
Reader Comments (8)
I enojoyed this one very much. =)
I love this blog! I grew up in a musical family & can't be more thankful for it.
I get upset when schools decide to cut out music ed programs. Wtg Brynn on the recent gigs! I know you're a proud mama beaming :-)
Great blog, Jinxi. I couldn't agree more, this is such a critical issue and one that needs to be highlighted in a big way. Thanks for posting it!
And thanks for being so ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!
Oceans of love to you all...
xoxo Wen
I TOTALLY agree. Music is an awesome thing for kids to experience! I play the piano, and I am just, like you said, in love with sound and rhythm and the way music notes make sense to me. I love being able to sit at the piano and make sense of a Mozart or Beethoven piece (what I am currently working on) and the way you can play with rhythm and make syncopation, etc. I am amazed at how the brain works, too, when it becomes automatic and I dont' even have to think to know that the bass clef sign means the lines and spaces have different names then the treble clef sign. Music is a wonderful addition to any school curriculum and I was highly annoyed when our school cut the music program 2 years ago. I wish everyone would realize how wonderful music is and how good it is for children and keep it in the schools!
As you mentioned home schooling children on this important aspects of their lives is important. Government fails us in so many ways and this blog demonstrates that fact. We can raise Super Children to enjoy and know the affects that music has on everyone.
Thanks for the inspiring post! It is so unfortunate that schools are cutting back on music education when the benefits of music education are clearly important in our kids' development. We all need to keep our kids participating in music any way we can - whether it is by voicing our opinions towards school officials and decision makers, enrolling our kids in private lessons, or encouraging them to start their own bands. Keep up the encouraging words, Jinxi!
It is totallt great!!!! Truly music educationis really important because we dont just need to focus on academics and major subjects. We also need to have music education in our schools because this is the one which captures person's attention and at the same time developing the skills of our dear students.
Inspiring videos like this warms the heart because it only goes to show that technology is truly improving. Just like the improvement of home video entertainment nowadays.