Understanding the Non-Musical Benefits of a Solid Music Program
By: Alan Hager
Across the United States, you will find a wide variety of school music programs, ranging from small programs that teach music for 15 minutes every other week to robust programs that include daily music classes, full musical productions, bands, orchestras, choirs, and well-planned music curriculums.
Budgets for music programs are also all over the board. In some cases, the music budget is set by what the teacher finds in his or her own heart and own personal pocketbook. Other schools have learned that there is more to music than melody, harmony and rhythm.
In many cases, Christian schools are one step ahead in understanding the importance of music education. There is no shortage of reference to music in the Bible, and worship through music is a vital part of most churches.
Schools with the most successful music programs have gone one step further in setting their music programs and budgets; they are seeing beyond the notes on the staff and understanding the many ways that music can contribute to a well-rounded education.
Exploring World Cultures Through Music
One way that music education can go a step beyond music itself is through the exploration of world cultures. Schools and churches with mission programs typically make an extra effort to understand differences between various cultures around the world, since they have the intention of serving those cultures in ministry. Since music is one of the primary gateways to learning about these cultural differences, the music classroom can easily become the foundation to a curriculum that includes multicultural elements.
In the past few years, there has been an abundance of new material published that feature songs, musical games, folk dances and activities from around the globe. While some teachers are already using this type of material, many are surprised to discover the quantity and quality of new material available. Students of all ages are excited about the opportunity to learn about other cultures through music, and the material available make this more possible than the teacher may have thought.
Imagine your students watching a DVD of Australian children being taught a native song and dance, and then being able to teach your own class the dance. Your students will look forward to the upcoming music classes when they visit Africa, Armenia , Ecuador , the Caribbean and more.
In today's world, where we are constantly seeing conflict and misunderstanding between cultures, shouldn't it be the responsibility of our schools to raise up children who have a better understanding of different ethnic groups and the characteristics that set us apart as
God's unique creations? What could be a better starting point than learning about the world's incredible diversity of musical instruments, songs, dances and more? In addition, students and teachers who study the music and art elements of a particular culture will be better equipped for serving the people of that culture through missions trips.
Some Facts about Music and Arts Education
While many parents, teachers and administrators may understand some of the benefits of teaching music, they may not be aware of the extent of evidence available to support these ideas.
Research tells us that children who play music do better in school and in life. Music advocacy groups have gathered a plethora of valuable data, which is the result of careful study of the beneficial effects of music and arts education. For example, a Columbia University study revealed that students in the arts are found to be more cooperative with teachers and peers, more self-confident, and better able to express their ideas.
The Journal of Neurology by the Oxford University Press showed that young children who received a year of musical training showed brain changes and superior memory compared with children who did not receive the instruction.
A study of rural and urban inner-city schools by Third Space - When Learning Matters found that arts programs helped schools in economically disadvantaged communities develop students' critical-thinking and problem solving skills.
An article in Psychological Science showed how a study examined the influence of musical education on nonmusical abilities, as well as the effects of music lessons on academic performance and on cognitive abilities. The study revealed that students who participated in music lessons showed statistically higher intelligence quotients.
The U.S. House of Representatives formed a Concurrent Resolution 355 on March 6, 2006, stating, "The skills gained through sequential music instruction—including discipline and the ability to analyze, solve problems, communicate and work cooperatively—are vital for success in the 21st century workplace.”
Music Is Many Subjects
Music education can open a series of doors into other subjects, making it the glue that holds together an overall school curriculum that includes cross-curriculum learning. Music is fun and educational by itself, but it can be even more fun and educational when combined with other subjects and activities.
Why not invite the science instructor into the music classroom to teach the physics and acoustics of various musical instruments? How about having your foreign language teacher spend some class time studying musical terms that are mostly Italian, German or French?
Music can be combined with physical education in a variety of ways that are especially fun for students using some of the widely available Music and Movement materials. Music requires the coordination of fingers, hands, arms, facial muscles, diaphragm, and other muscles, all combined with the hearing of the ears and the interpretation of the brain.
Your math teacher might be interested in knowing that you are teaching your students to subdivide rhythms into fractions instantaneously, not worked out on paper.
History is full of music, and music is full of history. Music of various time periods reflects the culture and environment of that era and of specific countries during those eras. Some of the most prominent classical composers were Christians, including Beethoven, Bach, Mozart and Handel, making this aspect of music history something that a Christian school cannot afford to leave out of their curriculum.
And, if this isn't enough, music uses all of these subjects—science, math, language, history, physical education—to create emotion, feeling, expression, and art; ultimately, for a Christian, it helps to create worship of the God who created all of these things
Call to Action: What Can You Do?
On the musical surface, teachers, parents, administrators and the community may not always see these non-musical benefits to music education. Those who understand and advocate for the benefits of music should be proactive in helping others to understand them.
Having your school put on a musical drama about world cultures would be an eye opener for everyone, perhaps leading the right people to open their musical ears when you ask for more resources for your music and arts program. Classroom music teachers, choir directors, and band directors who schedule groups of students to perform as an introduction to school board meetings have often found a positive change in the way that the board allocates resources to that music program. Schools and churches that have active children's music programs are an important part of fueling an ongoing adult music and worship team.
"Easier said than done" is a common phrase uttered by music teachers when they are trying to get a reasonable budget for enhancing their music program. School boards, administrators and parents all need to be convinced that the educational value of a music program goes beyond flats and sharps.
Teachers should clearly present the benefits that the music program can provide, including multicultural education, preparation for mission trips, growing up worship leaders, cross-curriculum education, and evidence that music education builds skills for the future. Musical instrument manufacturers, retailers and organizations can provide you with advocacy kits, which prepare you to state your case that your music program teaches much more than music.
Alan Hager is a general manager of Groth Music Company, www.grothmusic.com , in Bloomington, Minnesota . Hager has done considerable work in the area of classroom music, specifically children's handbells; he has compiled seven song collections, as well as curriculum and teaching and performance accessory products.
Music and arts education research data was gathered by, published by and authorized for reprinting by NAMM (International Music Products Association), MENC (Music Educators National Conference), and SupportMusic.com.
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