By Jeffrey Whalen

Music has inspired humanity since the beginning of time. As one person said, “Be it jazz, big band, rock and roll, country, classical, hip hop, or rap, music is the soul of life within us all.” Music teachers encourage their students to think and act artfully, imaginatively, and hopefully as they move courageously towards creating a better world. Teaching music to others is the ultimate gift.

Music is an important part of the education of a well-rounded student. As one of the arts, it balances the study of sciences and humanities in order to give students a creative outlet and expose them to another sphere of learning.

Music is taught from elementary school through college, and there are many different components to the subject. Classes can teach students to read and write music, to sing and play instruments, or focus on the history of music. This instruction seeks to develop children’s musical skills, expand their interpretative abilities, and increase their overall appreciation of music.

In elementary school, students learn to play simple instruments such as recorders and keyboards, sing in small choruses, and learn the basic elements of music. In middle school, music education usually continues to be a requirement, but extracurricular activities, such as joining the school chorus or band, are also options.

Most schools offer clubs such as these for children to expand their knowledge and appreciation of music. Some school districts also offer more specialized classes in middle or high school, including music history and music theory. The range of courses can focus on a variety of subjects, including basic vocal and instrumental lessons, exposure to different musical styles, introduction to the basics of musical theory, and study of music history.

In general, human responses to music can be observed. It has been proven that music influences us both in good and bad ways. These effects are instant and long-lasting. Music is thought to link all of the emotional, spiritual, and physical elements of the universe.

Music can also be used to change a person’s mood, and it has been found to cause similar physical responses in many people simultaneously. Music also has the ability to strengthen or weaken emotions arising from a particular event, such as a funeral.

The power of music to affect memory is quite intriguing. Mozart’s music and baroque music, with a 60 beats per minute beat pattern, activate the left and right brain. This simultaneous left and right brain action maximizes learning and retention. The information being studied activates the left side of the brain, and the music activates the right brain. Also, activities that engage both sides of the brain at the same time, such as playing an instrument or singing, cause the brain to become more capable of processing information.

The power of music cannot be denied. High school students who study music have higher grade point averages than those who don’t. These students also develop faster physically. Student listening skills are also improved through music education. The top three schools in America put great emphasis on music and the arts. Hungary, Japan, and the Netherlands, the top three academic countries in the world, strongly encourage music education and participation in music. The most talented engineers in Silicon Valley are all musicians. Napoleon understood the enormous power of music. He summed it up by saying, “Give me control over he who shapes the music of a nation, and I care not who makes the laws.”

After a college level education in music, serious students can consider attending the Juilliard Institute of Musical Art. This institution teaches music and art at the highest level to students from all over the world. Many of Juilliard’s graduates have gone on to become successful singers, actors, and teachers, and they have promoted the growth of music for over 100 years.

Teaching music is an art that should be an essential part of education for the young and the old. Being a teacher of music needs to be promoted as a distinguished position all over the world.

Please visit Jeffrey Whalen’s other websites and blogs;

www.Jeffrey-Whalen.com
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www.JeffWhalen.info

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