My Music Education Philosophy

My Music Education Philosophy

Jim Henson one said that “Music is an essential part of everything we do. Music has an abstract quality which speaks to a worldwide audience in a wonderful way that nourishes the soul.” Cultures around the world have long used music to express themselves through defeats, triumphs, joys, and their sorrows. Music has been a fundamental feature of society, telling a story of where they are from, and the hardships they have experienced. Cultures today still reflect through music, as they have for thousands of years, not dividing those of society. Music education is vital to help developing and expressing human thoughts, emotions, and connectivity.

            Music has no restrictions; everyone should be allowed to learn music with no exception. Music is universal; it is a language that everyone has the ability to learn. No one should be excluded, students with disabilities, or none English speaking language, are allowed to experience the joys of music and the fundamentals. Music allows for expression, letting everyone to actively participate and have an open mind. The students can participate through singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or movement, such as swaying.

            Music can reach everyone through the three domains of learning; kinesthetic, aesthetic, and cognitive. Music is very active in motion, music requires fantastic coordination. This coordination is required in the fingers, arms, hands, to the facial muscles and the lips. Including control of the back to sit or stand up straight, control of the abdominal, chest muscles, and diaphragm. Music also allows for creative expression through performance, composition, dance and movement, letting action through the movement of the feet.

            Music helps aesthetic development, an art that is unique in its own concept, a creation of emotion, and interpretation of feeling. Music is a creation of expression and creativity through culture and history that science can never duplicate, an expression of emotion. One can never hear the same song the same way twice, each person interpreting the expression of the song differently, making that song their own. It is expressing in a unique, emotional way, the part that makes us all human, making us sensitive, giving us something to cling to, showing us compassion and letting us recognize beauty.

            Music is also cognitive, making the students to think differently. Music involves both sides of the brain, activating more of the brain then someone who doesn’t participate in music. A study by the University of Muenster showed that musicians have twenty-five percent more brain activity than those who aren’t actively participating in music (Music Research). In a ten year study conducted by Dr. James Catterall from UCLA, indicated that students who study music achieve higher test scores, regardless of their backgrounds (Why Study Music). Music demands precise acoustics, involving frequencies, intensities, changes in volume, melody and harmony, including the need to keep an accurate beat and control of time. Music is divided into fractions of time that must be done spontaneously, not on paper. It involves the students understand the basics of another language, the terms being not in English. Most of the terms are music being Italian, German or French, being highly developed shorthand representing ideas of how the music should be interpreted. 

            Music is a concept that involves the brain, but to connect to the students you need a passionate, qualified, licensed music educator to instruct the students. An educator doesn’t put product before process, but allows the process of enjoyment, connecting to the students. Making sure that the students get the best info they can, but enjoying the process without being too harsh on the student about not getting it right on the first time. This produces a product that showcases what the students have learned, letting them show that they have achieved an understanding of music. 

            Music is available to all students, those with and without disabilities. Music can be used as a therapy for IEP students, giving these students a calming and focused outlook.  Music allows students with disabilities movement and expression, allowing them to actively participate in activities. Making students get actively involved in developing meaningful experiences helps develop skills with functioning and expression. No single student should be denied the right to create music due to their disability. Sam Berns, a high school student with Progeria, wasn’t denied the right to be in the band. He was allowed to create a drum that he could easily carry on his own and be able to play in the marching band. Sam Berns even stated some of his best times in high school were playing in the band (Tedx Talk). Music allows the right to accommodate every student, giving every student the right to RTI. Music allows creativity to flow and expression to be brought out. There is always an instrument a student can play. The question is if they’re willing to pick it up and use it.

            Music is a very active, emotional subject that allows expression of the human thoughts and creativity. Schools need to look into music to educate their students. It is often overlooked, but music is very important to develop and prepare young students minds for the real world, which they will face after their school careers come to an end. 

Citations

“Music Research.” Music Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 May 2014.

                <http://www.wildcatvoices.org/Great_Bridge_High_School_Chorus/Music_Research.html.>

TEDx Talks.  (December 13. 2013). My Philosophy for a Happy Life. [Video file]. Retrieved from 

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36m1o-tM05ghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36m1o-tM05g

“Why Study Music.” Why Study Music. Lessons Unlimited, 2009. Web. 05 May 2014.

                <http://www.lessonsunlimitied.org/WhyMusic.html.>