Band Education by Halie

Band Education by Halie - June 2018 Scholarship Essay

Music Education
Not one individual is ignorant to the musical arts programs that live within schools and universities across the nation. Every student has at least some concept of band or orchestra once they reach high school, but this class should not be a luxury for those in wealthier areas of the country. This class should not suffer from budget cuts first before any other due to its expendable nature inside the school system. Music education is imperative to the development of children because music engages brain activity, encourages complex social interactions, and improves academic achievement.
Studies have shown that many areas of the brain stimulate simultaneously when listening to and performing music. Although core subjects such as math and science, as well as other forms of art like painting, promote brain activity as well, these stimulants fail to produce a network of connectivity as extensive as music provides for the brain. The reason for music education’s far reaching effect throughout the brain is partly due to an enlarged corpus callosum in musicians’ bodies. The corpus callosum is a bridge between the two hemispheres of the brain, allowing for messages to travel from one side to the other. Because those who actively participate in music education tend to possess a larger corpus callosum, messages are received far quicker and in more creative pathways as opposed to non-musicians. This enhanced passageway strengthens the relationship between logical left-brain and creative right-brain thinking, enabling the two hemispheres to coexist in a more harmonious and beneficial way for each musician.
Music education aides in social interactions. Scientific studies have proven with groups of light-skinned children, many of which harbored moderate racist viewpoints and stereotyping towards African children, that the presence of Cape Verdean music over a short period of time could increase empathy levels between the children, reducing negative stereotyping. The light-skinned children who did not frequently listen to Cape Verdean songs, however, continued to display similar racist viewpoints towards African children as they did prior to the study. Because the children who listened to Cape Verdean tunes shared the experience of music together, the understanding between light-skinned and dark-skinned children amplified, resulting in the development of favorable relationships. Studies have also shown that because music ensembles encourage synchronization among all individuals involved, the bond between musicians is constantly strengthening and expanding. Music allows for individuals to band together and emotionally express aspiration and desire in complete social collaboration.
The introduction of music education improves a student’s academic performance within their studies. Because musicians are constantly deconstructing arrangements to precisely play notes and rhythms at the correct speed and time, their attention to detail is impeccable, and when a student transfers this perfectionism to other areas of work, they possess the skill to excel and succeed. Music also allows an individual to feel comfortable with the discomfort of learning due to the way a musician must constantly focus on how to balance, synchronize, and move with other players. The discipline needed to learn and perform a specific piece of instrumentation, when transferred to tasks unrelated to music, display how beneficial music education can be regarding other forms of schooling. This art form has also displayed positive results in combating learning disorders that derive from a lack of
communication between both the brain’s hemispheres because music forces the two sides to interact together.
Therefore, music education is essential in the growth of brain development, social interactions, and academic performances of individuals young and old. Because the introduction of music yields far more impressive results among children, music education must become integrated in all elementary schooling systems across the world to view the lasting and awesome effects such a beneficial action could impose upon an entire generation.

Words Cited
“More Music, More Empathy.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/live-in-concert/201508/more-music-more-empathy.

“Ted Talks on Music Education.” Yahoo!, Yahoo!, video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-arh-001&hsimp=yhs-001&hspart=arh&p=ted talks on music education#id=2&vid=96c234661e0ce6dba5e70c7b170d0a7b&action=click.