Learners who take part in learning instruments on one to one basis or as part of ensembles, or playing music in a group were usually a motivating factor. The participants in this study described music-making “as a means for interaction with others” as well as “developing a new skill” and “reminiscing”. They included that other than learning to play a repertoire, they gain knowledge about technical mastery, the experience of participating in an ensemble, and developing skills in reading and interpreting music. Some of the adult learners stated that playing an instrument could also effectuate emotions and memories related to family members. There are also participants who were motivated to play music as it helps them to recover their health issues and improving cognitive abilities.
We only focus on pass and/or fails of students through the assessments (Lautzenheiser 3). We need to focus on making the education fun so the subjects learned last for years, not just for tests at the end of the unit. Music Education had been associated with helping student’s grades improve. On the surface there is a fairly straightforward answer: students who participate in music education frequently do better than their peers on many measures of academic achievement such as grade-point averages and standardized test like the SAT and ACT (Hodges and O’Connell 1). It is believed music learning activates various areas of the brain and synchronizes the mind of learning at a fast pace while stretching the memory to a higher level of rentention (Lautzenheiser 2).
Music is that one tool that easily elevates the spirits of people and creates a special bond between people of different backgrounds. According to George Rachiotis, “music is the greatest creation of man, which touches the soul and also helps man to sympathetically manifest unspoken desire…” Music greatly affects people not only emotionally but also with education and life skills. And as Gerald Ford said, “Music education opens doors that help children pass from school into the world around them — a world of work, culture, intellectual activity, and human involvement. The future of our nation depends on providing our children with a complete education that includes music.” Music education is a necessity in every child’s education. To begin with, music helps in education and aids people to develop sharper skills that will help academically and mentally.
Knowledge of these effects can be used to manipulate our work and purchasing behavior.” As stated , music also affects the work environment, which in turn if you can imagine everyone at work enjoying themselves and their job because of listening to their music, then we could possibly have better quantity and quality in speed and production in all of our society which brings in more money at a faster rate. Just like that, just listening to music can easily change and better our society like how it has throughout history.”The easy availability of music means that it tends to be taken for granted. This can lead to neglect in considering how the infrastructure supporting music and musicians is resourced, maintained and developed”. As quoted if we could just get everyone to see the powerful impact that music has and always has had on our culture then we could really let music develop our culture and society. And then we could even make its availability more broad then in turn even one day change the world with just individuals clicking a single button.
Music is an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through rhythm, tone, melody, harmony and more. Earliest form of music can be traced back to approximately 40,000 years ago with discoveries of flutes made from bird bones in a cave in Germany (BBC, 2012). For generations, music has evolved and has played a crucial role in this humanity. It is strongly believed that listening to music or playing musical instruments has multiple cognitive benefits on children and has a direct correlation with their academic performance. Following the financial crisis in 2008, many schools have had no choice but to curtail their investment on music education, and this has an extremely negative impact on the kids of today.
In addition, music increases students’ abilities to listen and learn. Martin Gardiner at the Center for the Study of Human Development at Brown university reported a connection between early language skills and musical ability. Giving children education in music as young as possible can help them to have the ability to be successful in learning language. In another study done by Columbia University, it demonstrated that students who participate in the music are usually more cooperative with teachers and peers, have more self-confidence, and are better able to express themselves. Moreover, the social benefits of music education can continue throughout a student’s life in ways one would never suspect.
Music is global and in every part of your studies whether its history, science, literature or arts you can learn something different which can enhance your knowledge and skills to apply to your daily life. Music is an art. Therefore, it has many benefits to my life depending on how I choose to pursue it as a career or something I enjoy doing or listening to in my spear times. Since, I haven't chosen music as a career; it can also be use in my life as a form of relaxation, comfort, reduces stress and anxiety, improvement of my social skills, and quality of my life by both active and passive music experience such as free improvisation If I were to design a curriculum for a music class the goal would be for students to develop an understanding of music by singing, playing instruments, preforming rhythms, dancing, composing and listening to music. I would want to include its history and evolution of music, and how it influenced the people.
Social Benefits of Music Research suggests that there are social benefits to music and music making in a group setting. Choral singing has provided an environment that has created social benefits that can be obtained by participation in an ensemble like a choir. An example of the many social benefits provided through singing is the research of Sarah Bartolome (2013). Bartolome found within the parameters of, research, participants described a myriad of reasons for membership in the Seattle Girls’ Choir. The members described social benefits, including feeling accomplished and a sense of communal creativity.
Memories that were once lost are now found, and medication is improved by this one simple healing tool. All these things happen through the healing power of music. Music therapy needs to be used more often in health care because of the many physical and mental benefits it provides. Many people benefit from the efforts brought from music therapy. It helps with several physical and mental disorders including Autism.
There were also things that my cousin was not able to teach me, and I had to learn on my own like positioning and counting rhythm. I spent hours reading through musical theory books so that I could understand the background and general makeup of playing the piano. My time and dedication to learning allowed me to become a good piano player and showed that I belonged in that community. Becoming a part of the piano playing discourse community allowed me to become a part of a new family in which I felt accepted. Being a part of it has taught me many new things that do not apply just to the community itself but to life in general.