PHILOSOPHY

Irene Nemirovsky once said that “Music alone can abolish differences of language or culture between two people and invoke something indestructible within them.” (Suite Francaise, Novelist) Music is a unifying force that affects positive change and is something that every child should have the opportunity to experience. Music enriches students’ lives, provides them an outlet for expression, and aids in their overall physical and mental well-being. 

Music is a foundation of society. It is a universal language that everyone can communicate with and relate to. Music forms connections between people where there was previously distance. Music helps decrease stress which leads to long term health benefits. Music can elevate moods and brighten even the darkest days. The connections that are made through music are indispensable to society and as such, music should have a place in every student’s life.

Music provides students experiences that enrich their lives. Music is a wonderful way to study different peoples and cultures of the world. Obtaining musical knowledge is important in order to facilitate the study of other cultures. With musical knowledge, a student can sing music from, learn about, and celebrate other cultures.

Music provides students an outlet for expression. Music is a wonderful outlet of expression for students who often do not have the opportunity to express themselves in a class like math or english. Expressing oneself, especially at formative ages, is important in order to aid in self-discovery. It is also an important expression of culture and personality and helps children develop human connections and social skills. Music classes teach musical literacy, but they also teach other skills like patience. Students learn cooperation by working collectively in ensembles by working together with their fellow ensemble members. Cooperation and teamwork help prepare students for their future careers. 

Music aids students’ overall well-being. It does wonders for students’ mental and physical health. It can help them process their emotions and express those emotions in healthy ways. Health is crucial to a student's learning ability. Music also provides students another type of communication that they cannot get in any of their other classes. Music is a language in and of itself and having the ability to express oneself musically can often help students communicate and process emotions that they might not even realize they are feeling. Communication is the foundation of relationships in society and giving students another way to communicate and emote can have a positive impact. Music education cultivates critical thinking and attentiveness to detail and has positive effects on academic achievement as a result of these factors. 

Music is something that every child should have the opportunity to experience. Music enriches students’ lives, and provides them with an outlet for expression and aids in their overall physical and mental well-being.