With increased focus on ‘core subjects’ such as math and science, art and music can often be swept under the rug if educators do not aid in the fight for their students. Today’s music educators find themselves having to argue music’s importance in the school system to principals and school board officials. Music education is essential to a student’s education because it teaches history/culture, physical education, and a form of expression.

            We know that music can be traced back to even before there were written notes. It changed and developed differently with every country and time period. By teaching music history, students can get a better understanding to how what was happening in society effected its people. It can show how much freedom they were allowed, or it can show how restrictive a religion or government was. Teachers can also choose to focus on modern day music that interests their students and have the compare it to today’s societal norms and news.

            Music is also a form of physical education. The diaphragm is developed through vocal exercises and playing wind instruments. Wind, percussion, and string instruments require the development of fast and exact finger, wrist, and in some cases arm movements. To take it a step further, students that participate in after school marching band programs are required to exercise so that they are in good physical shape to march while also playing their instruments.

            Music is one of the highest forms of expression. It includes lyrics, body movement, facial expressions, and phrasing. With the increasing levels of anxiety and depression in today’s generation of students, it is increasingly important to give students all the outlets possible. Like myself during high school, music is many students source of escape.

            Due to these three main priorities in music, it is important for teachers, students, and parents to advocate for music in their school systems. Teachers are the most important people involved in advocacy because of their vast knowledge of the field developed through years of playing, their college education, and firsthand teaching experiences. Teachers can advocate to the school board and administrators by inviting them to the classrooms to observe the classroom/rehearsals. Teachers can also attend school board meetings to advocate for better funding for their students. For example, Dr. Owens took one of his students with him to play one of the schools most damaged and in this case smelly instruments to help sway the school board to provide more funding improve the students learning conditions.

Performances are also important for advocacy because it is an opportunity for teachers and students to show administrators, parents, and potential music students what they have been accomplishing in the classroom. Programs can be tailored to fit needs such as film and popular music to entice younger students to join the program or focus on a time period or composer to showcase music history. Students can even read short program notes to the audience to show their knowledge of the subject. This information can be shared in program notes; here, teachers can also share news about concerts further in the year, fundraisers, and competitions.

Schools often like to display the accomplishments of students. While I was in school, I enjoyed seeing the band and orchestra’s competition trophies displayed and advertised in the local papers next to the sports teams’ trophies. These competitions can take place locally or out of state. Like all field trips, out-of-state competition trips entice students to join music programs so that they can take part of what has the potential to be a lifelong memory.

In conclusion, music education is important because it teaches history, physical education, and expression. In order for students to get this education, advocacy can take place by inviting administrators to the classroom, attending school board meetings, performances, program notes, and competitions.