Abstract
Despite many incidences of civil unrest in our country, we know we can find peace and harmony in the beauty of music. It doesn’t matter, at times like these, that music makes you smarter or that students do better in school because of music. Music touches humankind deep down in the soul. It can right wrongs, heal wounds, and change lives. Music is one of the most powerful things we can experience in our lives. Elena Mannes, author of The Power of Music (http://www.npr.org/2011/06/01/136859090/the-power-of-music-to-affect-the-brain), states, “Scientists have found that music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human function.” That’s profound and should be shouted from the rooftops.
People take music for granted, yet it surrounds them all day long at events, in movies, on television, on their phones, and through other technology. In many schools, music is called not a “core” class but rather an “encore” class or “extra,” but never “essential.” When is this going to stop? Going back to Elena Mannes’s scientifically supported statement about music stimulating more parts of the brain than anything else we do is all the evidence we need to make music education essential to learning. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) supports a well-rounded education, and we need to fight for music education to be a part of that education where it is lacking. 1 Supporters of all the well-rounded subjects are fighting for the same Title IV pot of gold, so it is up to us as music educators to share the benefits of music education to ensure that those in charge of funding understand that music education is something we can’t do without.
In many parts of the United States, music has been minimized or eliminated out of the curriculum because of the need for more preparation in tested areas. Now is the opportune time to put music education back to full capacity and advocate for the benefits of music education. The Science Daily article “Music Has Powerful (and Visible) Effects on the Brain” proves that music has gotten the attention of scientists. 2 Not a day goes by that we don’t hear clear, concrete evidence of what music does for an Alzheimer’s patient or how music promotes empathy for others. In the Buffer Social blog on music and the brain, check out point number 5, which talks about how music training can significantly improve our motor and reasoning skills. 3
The online Edutopia article “Why Social and Emotional Learning Is Essential for Students” lists five key components to social and emotional learning (SEL): self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Greater social and emotional skills will most likely increase graduation rates, better prepare students for college and careers, create positive family and peer relationships, and reduce criminal behavior. 4 Isn’t music a great contributor to SEL? There are many more articles that can support why music is an essential course to be taught in a well-rounded education. Find them, and compile talking points to use to support the importance of music.
Hans Christian Andersen said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” 5 The singer Bono of the band U2 stated, “Music can change the world because it can change people.” 6 Many of our young people, perhaps even a generation, have not had the rich experience of music education in our schools. This has a profound effect on how music education is viewed and executed. We are starting to see administrators who have not experienced music education in their lifetimes and therefore do not feel it is important in the school curriculum. Because of lack of access to a high-quality music program, fewer students are going into music education and other music professions. This should alarm you.
We as music educators need to take the time to shout these messages from the rooftop at every opportunity—concerts, parent–teacher conferences, meetings with a principal during an evaluation, and presentations to school boards, to name just a few. Make sure to build time into your busy schedule to learn about the benefits of music, create informational materials to share, and have conversations with key stakeholders so that music in the world doesn’t become silent. We witnessed what our National Association for Music Education leaders accomplished on Capitol Hill after they heard music educators and others tell stories about what music education does for students and for humankind. Those legislators now understand what we already know and are ready to join us in shouting from the rooftops. Communication is key. Remain noisy and not silent about the important role of music education in schools.
Do you remember the phrase “Teach like your hair is on fire”? Spread this message like your hair is on fire. We can’t procrastinate or think someone else will do it. Each of us needs to be responsible to collectively create a tsunami across the globe—one voice—shouting from the rooftops.