In a public education system, especially in the United States where we’re driven towards science and engineering areas, music in such an environment is often questioned about its purpose there. Why is that though? As previously mentioned, professions centered in mathematics, sciences, and so forth are what are mainstreamed as essential to upkeep our economy and maintain it so efficiently. It’s no secret that they do but then again, we have to wonder what other areas could contribute to such a large statistic. Not many people realize it but music is one of those factors. It shouldn’t be seen as a necessity or hinderance to a child’s education, rather a huge stepping stone needed for growth and development.

According to many researchers in not only the music field, but the medical field as well, music has proven to be essential in education by: helping students build coordination, expand in their creativity and imagination, and overall higher their chances of success in our society. Students who practice playing instruments or sing are expanding their motor skills with that constant use of hand-eye coordination. Then when those motor skills are further developed, it helps them to learn and analyze patterns and problems so they’re capable of handling them. Whether musically or in some other aspect of the real world. Especially in business fields; owners look for people who are creative and “think outside the box” to make them more well-known and give more publicity that’s appealing to the public’s eye. Even if it isn’t a business field, employers look for people who are creative and imaginative. Therefore expanding the range of success of musicians.

Yet in order to accomplish these many things, you have to first publicize your program. Only the children first in schools will know about what the program has to offer. So putting up flyers in the school could be the first part. Another would be to send home letters to the families of those students and even some not already involved, perhaps to incoming 6th or 9th graders of the school, trying to spark that interest. If some parents do have a musical background of some sort, that’s extra encouragement for them to get their students involved. For those who are already in some type of music class at the school, maybe some get discouraged because of the lack of equipment or textbooks there in class. Reaching out to the principle or administration to let them see how your current situation is, can also be a line of communication. Show the importance of why these things are needed and how it will hinder your students education and the program as a whole. More lines of communication would be through the businesses in the community and religious institutions. Some business owners willingly enjoy giving back to the community, especially schools where they fund money to them. Particularly for the arts factor but not all the time; if not that then for the purpose of proper in-class materials. Religious institutions are known to host school drives and donation drives. This further expands the program in the community. Once these lines are connected, usually everything starts to align in place from there.

So in conclusion, still there are many things we don’t fully comprehend about how music works in different manners of the mind. But we do know how it affects people individually, some with different experiences as others. All in all though, it gives us a better understandings of ourselves and a wider view of the world around us. To really imagine the world without music, it’d be terrifying. Life would be “boring” so to speak and it wouldn’t give anyone a chance to have expression. Through other arts forms yes, but music is the art of sound in time. So it’s up to music educators to keep music alive.