The Importance of Music Education in the Public Schools

As educators, it is our responsibility to nurture in our students the knowledge and abilities that they need in order to be balanced and productive members of society. While mastery of the basic subjects such as reading and writing, math and the sciences are of course essential to obtaining this goal, many so-called extra-curricular subjects — especially music — are also vital in this effort. For its many tangible benefits, music should be maintained and promoted as an essential component of elementary and secondary education.

For centuries music had been considered an irreplaceable part of a proper education. Early universities taught it as one of the quadrivium or four essential pillars of education. Albert Einstein himself was a skilled musician and frequently attributed his discoveries in physics to the musical training he received.[1] Modern educational politics, however, have often marginalized music education to a luxurious and expensive “extra” program that is often cut when negative budget issues are met. Education administrators too often mistakenly believe that music education is a misguided effort to channel students into a career in music or, at best, an expensive “play time” that does little for their educational development. Read the rest of this entry »

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Music Lessons: Choosing an Instrument

Learning how to play an instrument by taking lessons on music offers a lot of advantages. It can help you improve your memory, boost your self-confidence, and discover your musical talents. This is why a lot of kids and adults are joining music classes. Now if you wish to discover your talent, you can start by choosing a musical instrument you’re comfortable with. To help you out, here are some of the most popular instruments you can learn to play:

Piano

Invented during the 1700s, the piano started out as an instrument for the royal and wealthy families of earlier centuries. However, over time, as the middle class began to prosper, pianos became a mainstay at many households. Several musical eras were highly influenced by the invention of the piano, since many legendary musicians and composers were also expert pianists. These include Johann Sebastian Bach (Baroque), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Classical), Frederic Chopin (Romantic), and Igor Stravinsky (20th century). Today, piano music lessons are quite popular among young and adult students. Read the rest of this entry »

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