MUE 2040 Intro to Music Education

Music Education Philosophy

Daniel A. Perez 11/25/2013

Daniel Perez MUE 2040 Intro to Music Ed. 11/25/2013

Music Education has had a significant impact on my life. From the moment I began music specials in elementary school, to joining the middle school band, then high school, and now majoring in Music Education at the University level, music has aided me along the way. Thus, I can only imagine how the same thing that impacts me and becomes part of my life also impacts so many others all around the world. If music education suddenly came to a halt it would be detrimental that no one will be able to experience a journey similar to the one I went through. In recent years, music education has seen a significant diminishing of programs all across the United States. One of the reasons is due to funding, another being interest in the activity. For example, urban city schools have had problems with being able to fund arts/music programs. Another issue is that students must be removed from these programs due to the lack of sufficiently high scores on standardized tests, to the point the program is cancelled because it lacks enrollment. There is a common misconception that music is the first thing that should be taken away when a child is not performing their best in school. The truth to that is that music has been proven to help students on their performance in the classroom, standardized tests, and their social and soft skills as well. Aside from being able to read music, soft and motor skills, and a grasp on music theory, music education simply develops students to me much more expressive humans I truly believe music education should start at an early age. The power that music holds is immense. Music stimulates the brain and the emotions as well. While stretching our listening, it can aid in the development of communication. Back then, music could not just be played from a radio or an mp3 player or any sort of recording really. You had two options, attend a concert of your choice or create music yourself. Nowadays music can be heard at any instant throughout the day which I consider a blessing and a curse. I believe music programs have to be the basis to push actual music making whether its a traditional band setting, orchestra, chorus, or any other type of ensemble and even private music making at home, all in hope of developing musical skills and education. That is why music programs in schools should be extremely supportive- to further the enjoyment and love that students experience when creating music and to have music influence them for the rest of their

Daniel Perez MUE 2040 Intro to Music Ed. 11/25/2013

lives. This all brings me back to my first point; the earlier a child can be given exposure to music, the better. There is a set of challenges that may occur and undoubtedly are occurring for music education. It has to be stressed how beneficial music is to all students all over the world. Reiterating the skills it develops, the connections it forms and how it aids in everything you else you do in life prove the use of music education. It can be seen that it is not enough to just say these things. Schools boards have to be proved wrong in thinking it is not needed in their schools. It starts from the directors of these programs and stretches across to the students, parents, and the entire community. On the flipside of the financial issues, a program may have adequate funding to have a program but the number of students is what is low. Therefore this still causes a dwindling program, which could possibly eventually lose its funds due to this. Parents should learn to support the arts and get their children involved in any way they can as the benefits are endless. In my personal experience I had a small music class all my years in elementary school that taught me musical notation, scales, and a hint of piano. It was then in middle school that I chose to take band as a class where I first learned an instrument and carried that all the way through high school and now college. I believe elementary programs have to be much more interactive and really set the standard in providing children with music education. This is because they are essentially the foundation to a students start of their musical endeavors. If it wasnt for my already picked up interest in music since I was a toddler, my music experience in elementary school was not anything special that pushed me to want to pursue it. All three levels of music education in school should be building blocks and platforms for carrying these experiences through all of the students K-12 careers. All in all, music education can clearly be seen as an extreme benefit to those who take the opportunity to embrace it. It does not matter in what way, shape, or form- it is a unique tool that should be a part of all school programs and be supported throughout.