The Importance of Music in Schools

           There are many things we take for granted in this world we live in. There are things that we are faced with everyday and don’t even notice, but would be devastated if they were not there. One turns on the TV to watch the game, throws leftovers in the microwave to heat up for dinner, or cranks a favorite radio station as one is driving to work. What if we didn’t have all these things? Teachers tell their students they can read instead of watching TV and parents tell their children to finish everything on their plate, but what would we do without music? Music is everywhere we go: in the mall, in the elevator, at the office, in the garage, in the car, at the fair, on television, and many other places that would take far too long to name. If music is such an important part of one’s life, shouldn’t people be educated in it? It is important that one understands all aspects of everyday life, especially the parts that are taken for granted. Music is a universal language, the only universal language this world has to offer. Kids also need to be taught about music so as to gain an appreciation for it. Finally, in a world that is falling apart, music is one of the few things that pull people together. This is why music teachers and music education in school is so important.

            What if, one day, a person awoke and found his or herself in a foreign land. What would one do? One would, possibly, run frantically into the streets trying to find any one person who understood his or her home language, but try as he or she may, would not find anyone. Then this person hears music coming from a nearby café. He or she loves music and would love to find anything connected to the life once known. As the person enters the café, he or she suddenly feels a little more at home, and tries to communicate, poorly, but understandably, that he or she would like to borrow a guitar and play. Now, with instrument in hand, this person is fluent in a language the people around understand and is one step closer to finding help. Now, of course, the chances of this happening to anyone are slim to none, but it’s always interesting to think about the “what-ifs.” The point is, music is a way to communicate, no matter where one is in the world. It can build friendships and brotherhood like few things on this planet. Even if one knows the basics of music that is all it takes to create music in its simplest form. Any musician will appreciate this form of music just as much as the most complicated of pieces.

School is often the only place a student can really be exposed to music. Every kid should learn a little about music, simply so he or she can understand the basics of what they hear on the radio everyday, or anywhere else for that matter. Even more importantly, the student needs to be exposed to music so as to gain an appreciation for it. Music is taken for granted and the only way to stop this is to show just how important it really is. If everyone realized how important music is, there would be no shortage of funding in schools and everyone would be able to make music. Music classes would be just as important as math classes and the musicians would stand out just as much as the sports stars. Even more importantly, students would go through school using both parts of their brain. School is so heavily focused on the left side of the brain that students hardly use their right side at all. Requiring students to take a class in a creative subject would get the juices flowing throughout the entire student mind.

Finally, in today’s world, there is so much grief and fighting and war, there needs to be something positive. Music, no matter how advanced, has always been used as a way of putting the bad aside and letting the positive shine through. Whenever people play music, they set grudges aside and work together for the sheer enjoyment of creating a beautiful sound. The world needs more music. If everyone learned to understand and appreciate music, we would all be one step closer to world peace.