Churnovic 1

Rok Churnovic
Mr. Hackney
Rhetoric 102
11 April 2014
Understanding the Importance of Music Education
Many schools look to educate their students in many activities deemed important by
officials. At one point in time, this also meant that students were taught to appreciate the arts. A
major focus in the art program would be music education. There was a time when band programs
were fully funded and backed up by schools and the government, but times have changed. Now,
when a school is hurting for money, often times it is the music program that suffers the
consequence. An abundant amount of research has been done to see just how important music
education is to the development of students. Joliet West is one of these schools that are
increasingly decreasing the funding for its music programs; however, being the oldest school to
offer music as a class in the United States, West keeps its band and music programs alive and
well. The school attempts to keep its band at the heart of many activities. Music education is
important in schools like Joliet West because it leads to students being more productive,
responsible, and just and all-around better and healthier student due to the stimuli that is
associated with music.
Education is a subject that has been around for a very long time. Since people could do
significant things, others would try to share their knowledge with others. Music education in high
schools first came around when Joliet High school made it a class that was taught to students.
This was done as almost a gateway to get into a military band and to give students a different
type of class to learn in that allows them to express themselves in different ways than usual.
Churnovic 2
According to an article that is found on PBS titled The Benefits of Music Education written by
Laura Lewis Brown, research shows that learning the do-re-mis can help children excel in ways
beyond the basic ABCs (Brown). Also stated in the article, when a kid has a formal education in
music, it becomes easier for the kid to improve upon other subjects. Music takes certain skills
such as math to be able to count time and rhythm, but being in a group of people who are doing
very smart, creative, and intelligent things makes other people be up and better just by
association. Though it has been proven that music education allows students to have a better
memory to recall things and statistics have shown that kids in music tend to do better at
concentrated tasks, it does not mean that kids who are educated in music are smarter than kids
who have no background in music (Par). Therefore, it has been proven that music education does
in fact increase a persons ability to learn. In a collaboration article written by L.C. Edwards,
K.M. Bayless, and M.E. Ramsey, titled Four Important Reasons for including Music in the
Classroom" a discussion was held on the reasons why music education is an important aspect to
the students. They come across the conclusion that, [Music aids] mental capacity and intellect.
There is a connection between music and the development of mathematical thinking.
Mathematical concepts are developed as children sing counting songs (Edwards and Bayless
and Ramsey). What this means is that when school officials decide to cut back these music
programs, they are limiting the growth and development of their pupils. So in other words,
schools are doing a lot more harm than intended by cutting these art and music programs.
Band programs could also be very beneficial to kids social and mental lives. According
to Vince Difiore, a trumpet player and writer for CNN, and the author of The Importance of
Music Education in Schools, Marching band in particular is the savior for people who may or
may not be athletic. Marching band is music, memorization, eye-hand coordination and good for
Churnovic 3
your posture. It may hurt to be told your paradiddles suck, but it builds character. It's a team
sport. You create friendships that become your buddies for life. High school music is something
focused to do. You don't have to be great to belong, and members immediately have something
in common (Difiore). What Difiore is saying is that being in musical groups, such as marching
band, kids learn to be a part of something. Also, these kids are able to learn certain skills that can
help in the future. This can be very beneficial socially to these students. Kids who are in
marching band spend a lot of time together and begin to become like family. Marching bands
lead to lifelong friends that will be by your side no matter what the consequences may be. Being
in groups like this can also make people draw connections to each other, which can lead to
people skills. There are separate sections that are inside of a band or a choir. This leads to strong
bonding within the sections within the group as a whole. Communication is crucial to a strong
section. Many people use these skills in their everyday lives; they can be used in places like
work. Also, music students learn to have a great deal of responsibility, which goes hand in hand
with work.
To be responsible means a lot in todays world. Employers want to have employees that
they can trust in their stores. Having to care for instruments and knowing ones own ability to
play the music takes a large amount of responsibility. Being in an ensemble means that no one
could be a weak link. In an article in the The Chicago Herald titled District 204 to Start Band
and Orchestra Later author Marie Wilson argues that music education is very important to teach
the young kids to be responsible. She states that because Chicago land schools are starting to
push back the starting grade for band from fourth grade to sixth grade, these kids are not getting
the same amount of knowledge, abilities, and responsibility they would have gotten if they were
in band earlier (Wilson). The reason many schools had to push back the starting date for band
Churnovic 4
and choir back was because of budget cuts. With smaller budgets, schools could not afford to pay
teachers to direct all of the students. That eventually led to scheduling conflicts. This is relevant
to the Joliet schools because many of the schools in the Joliet area continue to have students take
band and choir in fifth grade, despite having many budget cuts. This led to more kids being able
to have the full experience that is associated with being in music programs, such as becoming a
part of a group and developing into a well-rounded individual. In a video that is on YouTube,
that was produced by WYCC PBS Chicago titled The Professors 710 - Importance of Music
and Arts Education in America many professors from the University of Chicago discuss the
importance of music education in the Chicago school districts. In the video they touch on many
subjects that are very important. This group of professors asks a series of important questions
that the group eventually looks at in whole; questions like: Is it smart to cut music and art
programs? How do those cuts impact the ability of the students to learn other subjects?
(WYCC). In the middle of this debate, one man says that the main benefit from these [music]
classes, is that students develop creative problem solving skills that can be used for almost
anything (WYCC).
To be a well-rounded person means that one is stable mentally, physically, and socially.
This theory is backed up by Roger Glass, author of the article titled TheARTS (Glass). In
this article, Roger Glass takes a look at professional music teachers and their ideas on what
music means to the education of students. Glass states that music is needed in order to make the
student "well-rounded" and educated (Glass). What Glass means by well-rounded is that these
kids gain new life experience while in music that may not be strictly educational, while also
having the knowledge that comes with being artistic and expressive. It also means that the
student is emotional, mentally and physically sound. For example, students can learn life skills
Churnovic 5
like how to respectful and proper during a job interview. Many kids in band have to audition in
order to make it into the band, and the process is similar to that of a job interview. He also
maintains that certain aspects of music can be educational in other ways, for example, musicals
about historical moments in our history can teach a student history will also be fun with the
music (Par). It been proven that music can help a person out in the mental sense; it has been
known that being educated in music also can develop a person physically. In the article, Four
Important Reasons for Including Music in the Classroom, it has been said that Mastery of the
physical self. Children develop coordination, which aids muscular development. They begin to
understand what they can do with their bodies as they run, balance, stretch, crawl, and skip
(Edwards and Bayless and Ramsey). This is very important because it would not seem as though
music could help one develop physically, but this just goes to show that music has a multitude of
benefits that may be submerged below the surface. It has been shown that music education also
is good for one psychologically. It has been proven that listening to music can increase the
activity of the brain. When a student learns about music theory, the student is able to think about
the method that music works. This allows the students to have a whole new and different
understanding of music that makes the brain constantly work and think. Being taught music,
students are able to have an output of a way to express themselves and release tensions such as
stress. L.C. Edwards, K.M. Bayless, and M.E. Ramsey write [Music leads to] [d]evelopment of
the affective aspect. Through music and movement, children learn acceptable outlets to express
feelings and relieve tension. Music may also convey a specific mood through which children
reveal their feelings and emotions [as well as the] [d]evelopment of creativity. Music can
create an imaginary world that stimulates a childs creativity. A box can become a drum, a stick
can be transformed into a horn, or a broom can become a dance partner. Children make up songs
Churnovic 6
or give new words to old songs for pure enjoyment (Edwards and Bayless and Ramsey).
Creativity and the ability to be empathetic can lead to children becoming a healthy person.
The issue is really important because it doesnt have to be the way that it is. According to
the article It Turns out Funding Music Education Costs Less than Everyone Thought by Suzi
Parker, music education is not expensive if schools can effectively balance cutting and budget
(Parker). What Parker is arguing is that these schools immediately are cutting these programs
without trying to work out the problem first. Music education could actually gain money for
these schools if they would put in the effort to work out the kinks in the program. She gives
interesting statistics about the amount of money involved with the band programs. Studies have
shown that it only costs approximately one hundred and eighty seven dollars for a student to be
in the music program (Par). That means that if done properly, the schools can take that money
and use it to fund the music program and have some extra revenue to be used to pay employees
and such. The ability to fund the band program can also be made possible by donations from
groups that wish to continue the spirit of arts in schools. In an article Why Arts Education Is
Crucial, and Who's Doing It Best written by Fran Smith, she argues that music is important and
certain groups help music to stay afloat in this declining environment. George Lucas, the film
director, and lover of the arts, has a program where he gives to schools to help keep the art
programs alive. The George Lucas program gives large lump sums of money to schools in order
to keep the arts in schools. The problem is, however, that the article also looks into other aspects
of the issue.
Although music education is great way to help kids see things in a different light and to
help develop children into a well-rounded individual, music education isnt a necessity. As Smith
said, the arts are lovely, but they are not essential (Smith). Students need to learn the basic
Churnovic 7
necessities in school, such as the core classes; science, math, and English being the most
important. This standard has been set by the Government of the United States as the core
standards for classes. Each student needs to successfully pass a certain number of these classes in
order to graduate from school. Music education is not one of these classes. Once a student is in
high school, music education is just an elective class. That means that the student has to fill their
schedule with these core classes and possibly have enough room to fit in music or art. It makes
sense, too. It wouldnt be beneficial for everyone to take a music class if the student wanted to be
an accountant. Math, however, would be beneficial to someone who wanted to go into music. If a
school had to hire new teachers, it would be more logical to hire a new math or English teacher.
In conclusion, music education can be very beneficial to help develop students. Music as
a class can help teach students to be a more responsible individual while also giving them the
opportunities of a life time. Opportunities to learn about oneself and to give them the ability to
meet new people and make friends that can last for ones whole life. Students who are in musical
groups like a band eventually learn to be productive; as well as many other skills that can be very
important to life after school. Also, music education can help develop the students that take it in
a physical sense. Therefore, it can be very beneficial to keep the art programs alive in school. In
the end, it can help make the people of the future be better and healthier people.






Churnovic 8
Works Cited
Difiore, Vince. The Benefits of Music Education. PBS, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
Edwards, L. C., K. M. Bayless, and M. E. Ramsey. "Four Important Reasons for including Music
in the Classroom." Education.com. Education.com, 20 July 2010. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
Glass, Roger S. "The...ARTS." American Teacher. Feb. 2010: 10-12. SIRS Issues Researcher.
Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
The Importance of Music Education in Schools. CNN, 31 May 2011. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
Parker, Suzi. "It Turns out Funding Music Education Costs Less than Everyone Thought."
Takepart. Participant Media, 30 Aug. 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.
Pellegrinelli, Lara. "Music Education in Public Schools Gets a Passing Grade." NPR: The
Record. NPR, 6 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.
Smith, Fran. "Why Arts Education Is Crucial, and Who's Doing It Best." Edutopia. George
Lucas Educational Foundation, 13 Mar. 2014. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.
Wilson, Marie.. "Dist. 204 to start band, orchestra later." Chicago Daily Herald (Paddock). 10
Dec. 2013: 1. eLibrary. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
WYCC PBS Chicago. The Professors 710 - Importance of Music and Arts Education in America.
Youtube. Youtube, 6 May 2013. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.