The importance of music in schools
When we hear about music and other art programs in our school curriculum, most of us are guilty of putting it aside. For example, the focus is then put on the basic or standard studies in schools such as reading, writing and arithmetic. Little do a lot of us know that the importance of including music in that list is as crucial as the others.
Programs are being cut from school budgets at an alarming rate to save money, i.e. physical education, art and music classes. There is already a whole generation of teachers and parents who haven’t had the advantages of arts in their own education. Many teachers don’t know how to include any kind of art in their teaching these days and parents don’t know how to ask for it.
Studies have shown that including musical studies such as learning to play an instrument or class sing-alongs and even drama have impacted the way children learn and
Read more: The importance of music in schools – The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_14992491?source=pop#ixzz2Eel14Gpy
Nobody cares about music and art, these two disciplines encourage individual and critical thinking.
Developing ideas and making them reality is far too alchemical for children to enjoy.
The American dream depends upon the rabble to be asleep so of course music, and art skills are to be quashed as much as possible.
Music is critical to keep for the many reasons in this well written commentary. I know that music in junior high and senior high school for me was the key to keeping me in school. I also enjoyed and learned from sports all through secondary education.
If all there was to school were structured talking head classrooms I would have been a school dropout. Over forty years of being a college professor have shown me that some lectures and especially some teachers can help students learn from classrooms. However, all too many classroom experiences are so tedious, rote, and boring that students do not learn and are even driven from learning.
This is why teacher quality is the key to improving things. And teacher’s using the best of today’s technology are likely to be the most successful with this technology driven generation. At the same time the discipline of music, and sports, are valuable. Practicing until correct, coaching instead of teaching, joy in learning enhances all learning.
True freedom is found in self-expression without mind control mechanisms.
As the traditional infrastrucure collapses, the “arts” will rise and flourish. They are our divine nature. Joy and happiness will reign!
learning music not only is fulfilling and rewarding. it teaches two of the most important virtues discipline and dedication. why would you want to take that out of an educational curriculum??