Brendon Sapp

MUS 1990
Dr. James W. Tipps
September 23, 2014
Too often, music programs in schools are dismissed as add-ons and not viewed as
essential to the education of students. As a result, many students do not continue with music
throughout their schooling, and grow up thinking that they lack musical talent. In many cases,
music is viewed as a nice supplement to a childs education, but not anything that is very
important in its own right. It is also seen as something that should only be available to those who
are express interest early on. However, there are plenty of people that are not yet aware of their
musical talent or even their appreciation for music, and just need the opportunity to present itself.
Its value lies not in its use as an extra-curricular activity, but as a subject that is beneficial to
everyone.
Everyone should study music because it is important for them to know that anyone can
match pitch, sing, play an instrument, and participate in music throughout their lifetime (A1).
General music classes should be taught to everyone in elementary school (A2). In those classes,
students will be able to gain basic singing and instrumental skills, and may even discover that
they are more talented than they realize (A3). Easy folk songs, such as Mary Had Little Lamb
and Hot Crossed Buns, can and should be used as a way to get students comfortable with singing
(A4). Reading music notation is another important skill that should be taught in general music
classes (C3). Students should be able to know the letter names for each line and space on the
staff, and be able to match pitches to those letter names.

People are exposed to music frequently throughout their lives through the radio,
television, live performances and other forms of media. In addition to hearing music, people
become consumers of music, buying CDs, purchasing songs from online and paying to see
performances live (B1). As a result, students may develop a desire to create music themselves.
Various musical ensembles should be available to those who are interested, whether they are
vocalists or instrumentalists (B2).
It is important for students, even those not participating in ensembles, to develop an
appreciation for music as well as listening skills (B3). Students should learn to recognize
different types of instruments and voices when they are listening to music. They should be able
to notice the form of the music as well, being able to differentiate verses from choruses and
finding the sequence of the music. General music classes should teach students to recognize
pieces by famous composers, such as Beethoven and Mozart. This can be accomplished by
listening to a wide variety of music, including various classical pieces (B4). Students should be
exposed to symphonies, chamber music and other forms of ensembles. However, students should
not be limited to only classical music, but experience other genres as well. Students should be
able to experience popular music and their classes, and should be exposed to music from across
the globe (C4, D4).
As students cultivate their skills in creating and listening to music, they will begin to
form opinions on what sounds appealing to them. Aesthetics, which is the study of emotions and
feelings caused by beauty, factors in greatly when students form these opinions (C1). It is
important for students to experience aesthetics in music, because it is not a concept that students
are exposed to in many other classes. Students may get limited exposure to aesthetics in language
arts, history, or foreign language classes, but not nearly as much as they would studying arts and

music. It is important for students to learn about aesthetics, so they can not only discover how
they feel about certain types of music, but also why they feel the way they do. Students should be
able to analyze different groups and performances intelligently. Rather than just saying that they
like or dislike a piece, they should be able to point out things that sound pleasing or displeasing
to them. Aesthetics can go a long way as students begin to describe the music they are hearing,
and start creating some of their own.
While it is important to educate students in performing music, developing listening skills,
and finding their own reasons to appreciate different types of music, there are plenty of students
who would like to learn more about music in general as well. Music electives, such as music
theory and history of music, should be made available to anyone who is interested (C2). These
electives will benefit the students, allowing them to gain knowledge that they can apply to other
music classes or ensembles.
While music is not solely important due to its benefits outside of music, there are plenty
of ways it can apply to other areas of life. For example, music fosters a sense of teamwork and
camaraderie. When performing in a band or ensemble, musicians need to be aware of the people
around them and work with them to produce good sounds (D1). In this way, music is a catalyst
for social interaction. Music also teaches students about responsibility and the value of hard
work. Students will learn that in order to be successful in music, it is necessary to spend time
practicing. Along with these lifelong skills, music provides students with a way to connect with
other cultures. Music is something that every culture is exposed to, but it can be vastly different
depending on the region and culture it originates from.
Music is not something that should be limited to certain groups of people. It can be
beneficial to all, and should be taught effectively. There are national standards for music

education, which include the ability to sing and play an instrument as well as notate music (D3).
However, there is plenty of room for creativity when it comes to teaching music. Educators
should explore multiple ways to teach music and inspire their students to learn. While
encouraging creativity, they should also use filter discretion in their music selections for class,
making sure their students are listening to the best quality music possible (E4). Ultimately,
educators should inspire their students to continue participating in music throughout their
lifetimes, not just to affect other areas in their lives, but for the sake of music itself.