The purpose of education is to create free-thinking individuals with a knowledge of

academics, in addition to a functioning social basis to be productive members of society. Our

students are the future of the world; as teachers, it is our duty to prepare our students to be in
the world they will soon go into. In order for this to happen, students need to have a baseline
of academic knowledge that allows them to read, write, perform mathematics, and problem
solve. With this knowledge, they are able to go into the world with the needed intellectual skills
to succeed. However, education should not only be focused on academics, critical thinking, and
problem-solving, but also character building. School should be a method to teach children
teamwork, community, hard work, and more. This is because students must learn social skills
just as much as they learn intellectual skills. It is possible that students do not get the influence
needed in other areas of their life. Therefore, education should assume the role of building the
best people: not just academics.
Student learning is the most crucial consideration in the education process. Learning is
when an individual is presented with a concept and through trial and error, the learner is able
to understand and grow in that concept. Academically, students should be pushed to their zone
of proximal development. Students need to be challenged in order to achieve their highest
learning potential. In order to achieve this goal, teachers must have high expectations for their
pupils. In music, this means pushing students to understand the fundamental, creative, and
emotional aspects that compose the subject. This does not mean though that teachers must
only focus on their students academic growth. Classrooms need to be areas where students can
be comfortable being themselves. Therefore, everyone must be welcomed as who they are and
celebrated. Teachers should get to know their students personally and be sensitive to their
individual needs. Even though a classroom is a place of learning, it needs to be a positive space
that students look forward to visiting, not dread. What is also important to keep in mind is that
teachers are not supposed to be friends with their students. Teachers need to keep a
profession demeanor; they should be kind to their students, know about their lives, and be able
to share about their own lives, but they should also not get too relaxed or familiar with their
class.
 One way to encourage student learning is to make content relevant to them. Oftentimes
teachers will shape lessons in a way that is convenient for themselves but not their class.
However, if teachers create lessons in a way that is not only educational, but also appealing to
student interest; a higher level of learning can occur. This can change based on the subject
being taught. It is up to the teacher to find ways to connect the lessons learned with a student’s
person. As a teacher in the arts, a music teacher has the unique perspective of teaching a
subject that applies to every student in a positive light. Additionally, a music lesson can include
songs that students listen to on a daily basis.
Music is a phenomenon that every culture known of has as a part of their society. It
provokes emotion and is an outlet for creativity. In simpler terms; Music is a part of what it is to
be human. By learning about music; how it’s made, its history, and how it makes us feel,
students are learning more about what it is to be human. Because of this, I believe that each
student in school should be required to learn about music. Everyone has a kind of music that
they listen to, therefore, student should know how it is made and how it affects the lives of
individuals. Music should then be taught by individuals with a personal knowledge of how it
works and how it is created. Teachers should have experience in performing, analyzing, and
creating music. Only through personally gaining experience in making music are teachers able
to truly pass on their knowledge to their students by creating new opportunities for them to
explore and grow. Music education should focus on how music is made, how it’s performed,
and then allow students to create their own music. This is necessary because students need to
know how something so dear to the human spirit exists. Without arts, some people would have
no joy in their lives. Therefore, music should be taught on the same levels as other core
subjects, because it contributes to society just as much as the others. Education can only be
successful when students are supported academically, socially, and emotionally.