Benefits of Music Education
Kris Epperson
Mrs. Wilder-Newland
English 12
15 March 2012
Benefits of Required Music Education According to “College Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers,” “Students in music appreciation classes scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math than students with no arts participation.” Music programs are being cut and underfunded even though these programs should be the first to be funded; they provide a magnitude of benefits. Music should be taught progressively just like English or social studies. The music class would start out as it does in most music classes in elementary school, going through the basic history and learning how to play the recorder. Then, in middle school, it would gradually become more complex and include knowledge of music history, basic music theory, and basic instrument skills. In high school, the class would branch out to include intermediate music theory and instrument skills. Music should be required in all grades because it benefits the student learning process. According to the Music Educators National Conference of 1991, “Music can make a significant contribution to all of education in terms of student benefits by enhancing key developmental goals such as self-esteem and creativity” (Eady and Wilson “The Influence” 243). The importance of music education has been debated, mostly in the past thirty years. Recently, some band directors have been forced to share jobs. This change means a high school band director has to be the middle school band director as well as the elementary school band director. An overload can take the focus away from improving the high school band program. Music classes are taught only once a week in local elementary schools. In local middle schools the only source of music education is the exploratory band, choir, and orchestra program. No general music classes are required, which means students not enrolled in the arts program will have no music education.
Mrs. Wilder-Newland
English 12
15 March 2012
Benefits of Required Music Education According to “College Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers,” “Students in music appreciation classes scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math than students with no arts participation.” Music programs are being cut and underfunded even though these programs should be the first to be funded; they provide a magnitude of benefits. Music should be taught progressively just like English or social studies. The music class would start out as it does in most music classes in elementary school, going through the basic history and learning how to play the recorder. Then, in middle school, it would gradually become more complex and include knowledge of music history, basic music theory, and basic instrument skills. In high school, the class would branch out to include intermediate music theory and instrument skills. Music should be required in all grades because it benefits the student learning process. According to the Music Educators National Conference of 1991, “Music can make a significant contribution to all of education in terms of student benefits by enhancing key developmental goals such as self-esteem and creativity” (Eady and Wilson “The Influence” 243). The importance of music education has been debated, mostly in the past thirty years. Recently, some band directors have been forced to share jobs. This change means a high school band director has to be the middle school band director as well as the elementary school band director. An overload can take the focus away from improving the high school band program. Music classes are taught only once a week in local elementary schools. In local middle schools the only source of music education is the exploratory band, choir, and orchestra program. No general music classes are required, which means students not enrolled in the arts program will have no music education.
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