Music in Education
I’m passionate about music education and think there’s a great need for more music in schools. Now, more than ever, children today need more access to music. Music taps into every facet of what it means to be human.
Music in schools is important because, for many children, school is where they learn about music. Not many families make music for fun anymore. Thanks to technology, there are more and more ways for people to be entertained that doesn’t involve their active engagement. As a result, music can sometimes end up as background noise or something with which we have minimal direct involvement.
March is Music in Our Schools Month. And while I’m not a school music teacher in the traditional sense, I do provide music in schools. In the video below, I share a bit more about my background and experiences providing music in different specialized school programs.
Education Through Music
As I mention in the video, the thing that I most enjoy about making music with students in school is seeing how music helps them grow and learn more about themselves. To me, it’s about the process, rather than the product. (Although creating a product that’s enjoyable and meaningful is also nice- and some would say, part of the process.)
In my work as a music therapist, my job isn’t to teach music to students. I’m there to teach students through music. Some things I teach about life to students through music are:
- New ways of thinking and the ability to see different perspectives
- Problem-solving skills
- Perseverance and resilience
- Attention and focus
- Developing a sense of self-mastery and self-control.
Sharing More Throughout the Month
Since March is Music in Schools Month, I’m going to be doing a video and blog series on music and children. Each week I’ll share something new. Next week I’ll talk about music and early childhood education. The week after I’ll talk about elementary-aged students, followed by middle school-aged students, and then high school-aged students.
If you’re a parent or an educator, I hope you find the information I’ll be sharing to be valuable. If you’d like to learn more about how music could help your school-aged child or students, contact me.
