MUSIC 23241
March 15, 2011
Music in Today's Schools
The main point of this article is to describe why music is essential in schools. The author, Paul Lehman, gives several rationales and reasons for the importance of music in today's schools. He also lists a couple issues that schools present when teachers are trying to convince them to include music in the school along with a few facts to prove that these are not valid excuses. He mentions that according to administrators, there isn't enough time in the school day or enough money in the budget for music classes, but neither of these are necessarily true. The time in the school day could be altered to allow more time for a music class and the budget is directly linked between the teacher/student ratio, not the subject being taught. He then continues his article by talking about the reasons that music in schools is important for the students. His reasons include that the arts are important in our culture, music provides an outlet for creativity and self-expression, and creates opportunity for success for students having difficulties in other curriculum. There are several more reasons to the list but that is a general overview. He ends the article just by summarizing what has already been said.
I can relate with a few of the reasons music is essential in schools that Eisner mentioned. The main one I relate to is that music provides opportunity for success in other subjects because I always had difficulties focusing in my other classes and I never wanted to be there. Music gave me a reason to want to go to class and because I was excited for my choirs, I would be in a better mood and able to focus in all of my classes. I also felt like music was the only way I could express myself in high school and I think because of that, I have learned to be more expressive and able to voice my concerns more now. This has helped in my development in several different ways.
I agree with one of his main points that music shouldn't need a thousand reasons to be included in schools, the only reason should be that it is worth knowing and worth learning about. Music makes a significant impact in our lives everyday. If you take a moment to think about your day, I am sure every single person could say that they heard some form of music on any given day. Music is a powerful and profound symbol in our society. It can express different emotions, stories, etc., and I personally don't want to be in a world where music isn't taught in schools.
Lehman, Paul R. (1987). Music in today's schools: rationale and commentary. Words of Note, 5-16.
I can relate with a few of the reasons music is essential in schools that Eisner mentioned. The main one I relate to is that music provides opportunity for success in other subjects because I always had difficulties focusing in my other classes and I never wanted to be there. Music gave me a reason to want to go to class and because I was excited for my choirs, I would be in a better mood and able to focus in all of my classes. I also felt like music was the only way I could express myself in high school and I think because of that, I have learned to be more expressive and able to voice my concerns more now. This has helped in my development in several different ways.
I agree with one of his main points that music shouldn't need a thousand reasons to be included in schools, the only reason should be that it is worth knowing and worth learning about. Music makes a significant impact in our lives everyday. If you take a moment to think about your day, I am sure every single person could say that they heard some form of music on any given day. Music is a powerful and profound symbol in our society. It can express different emotions, stories, etc., and I personally don't want to be in a world where music isn't taught in schools.
Lehman, Paul R. (1987). Music in today's schools: rationale and commentary. Words of Note, 5-16.
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