Philosophy of Music Education

            Music is everywhere: restaurants, sporting events, shopping centers, soundtracks, garages, concert halls and living rooms.  To find a place void of music is no easy task.  To find a culture entirely void of music is impossible. 

From the most primitive cave drawings, we know that music has permeated every culture.  It provides us with a unique form of human expression.  For this reason, music has become a part of everyday life.  There is no way to escape or destroy music’s power.  Even in utmost despair, suppressed peoples throughout history have clung to music were it more precious than life itself.  It is our duty as educators to ensure that all students know, experience, and understand this unique art form.

Great philosophers and thinkers throughout history have recognized the importance of teaching music.  Most recently, Gardner has identified music as a unique form of intelligence.  This indicates that every person posses an innate aptitude for music.  An innumerable amount of factors effect how close to their potential an individual achieves at any point in time.  A school environment rich in music is an indispensable tool for developing and increasing a child’s aptitude.  It is our responsibility as educators to help each student meet his or her highest potential.

The study of music has many positive ramifications in other subjects across the curriculum.  Therefore, all students should have the benefit of music as part of their education.  Music is one of the only activities that simultaneously engages the expressive and analytic sides of the brain.  This cognitive development is accompanied by increased discipline, communication, coordination, independence and creative thinking skills.  A large portion of music study is accomplished in a group setting.  In an ensemble, social divisions and stereotypes dissolve as the groups strives to experience the intangible emotions that come from music making. 

            Upon graduation, every student should have the ability to appreciate and participate in music making for the rest of their lives.  Each student should develop a widely varied listening vocabulary so that they may independently choose and understand music on their own.  Further, each student should acquire the knowledge and skills needed to create music for its own sake. The ultimate goal is to create lifelong learners, who can independently experience the beauty of music for their own pleasure.