Music education: is it really that important?

BY: MALLORY J.

Why is it that sports seem to be the most important thing among schools? Why does the athletic department seem to get the most of the money while the music department suffers from old instruments and the same music the band has played for years? What would happen if, instead of buying new football pads, the band got a new bass drum? Or the choir got new risers for the stage? Music education is critical to a student’s education and life experience. Almost 1.5 million school districts in the world don’t have a music education program, whether it’s concert band, jazz band, marching band, or choir. Music education should be available in all schools as it improves academic aptitude and cognitive behavior.

It is proven that students who are involved in music tend to score higher on tests and improve their academic abilities. “A 2012 analysis of longitudinal studies found that eighth-graders who had been involved in the arts had higher test scores in science and writing than their counterparts, while high school students who earned arts credits had higher overall G.P.A.s and were far more likely to graduate and attend college,” says Kate Taylor, and education reporter for the New York Times. A lot of schools focus on aligning their standards with the tests. That doesn’t always work. Sometimes, students are tired of testing and want to learn. Instead of spending the money on more textbooks and materials, allow kids to have music. It can help more than just academically.

Music education helps improve the cognitive behavior of people, which is the result of a perception, sensation, notion, or intuition. A person learning music has to use multiple skill sets, typically more than one at the same time. They have to read music, process what it means, and put it into action all at the same time by using fingers and breath control altogether. It’s difficult. Those skills are then used to help in school. Laura Lewis Brown, a writer the for PBS website, says that, “The students in the study who received music instruction had improved sound discrimination and fine motor tasks, and brain imaging showed changes to the networks in the brain associated with those abilities.” This proves that music education has so many benefits, no matter how much it costs.

Many school staff think that music costs too much money and those funds are better spent on better education or even sports. The Leaf Group, a nonprofit educational group says, “Music programs not only cost a lot of money because of the required instruments, playing space and various concerts, but they also require schools to hire extra music faculty and instructors.” This is true. Music is expensive. Schools would need to fund for instruments, music, instrument storage, teachers, and so much more. It doesn’t have to be a waste of money though. The facts show that music education is helpful and important. The money goes towards a good cause.

The West Jefferson Schools are very lucky in the ability to have a music program. But, there is always more that can be done. Music education is just as valuable as any sport. Studies have shown the same positive results for sports as music. Instead of getting new uniforms several times a year, give the band the money to fix their uniforms that they keep for over ten years. Replacing a single button on a marching band uniform can cost upwards of 30 dollars. Overall, music education should be treated as a much more important factor in a student’s curriculum, just as important as athletics