The Universal Language

Drugs, violence, and obesity face the youth of this country everyday and without exposure to different outlets; students may never realize their true passions and be trapped in this self-destructive cycle. What if schools could do something about this? What if schools could open the eyes to students to the world of possibilities that await them? First, you must realize that schools do push students to explore different outlets through sports, extracurriculars, and volunteer opportunities. These outlets all being voluntary do supply students with a way to seek their passions; however, the most effective and universal is often overlooked, music. Implementing music programs and classes as a mandatory aspect of students’ curriculums will have a severe impact on students. In elementary and middle schools, this is easy with the rotating nine weeks system; however, with high school schedules this is not. By placing students who are not already involved in the arts (orchestra, band, or chorus), in a music class at younger ages will compel them to continue their passions into high school, whether through school sanctioned organizations or off campus lessons or classes. Music positively influences several aspects of students’ lives, including academics, creativity, and life skills. Music, both classic and modern, is the universal language and opens a new world to students.
As ridiculous, as it may sound I found my passion at four. Every week I took my piano books to school and had a piano lesson. From that young age, I knew I loved music. My parents did not push me into it, it was a part of my school’s curriculum and I continued taking lessons until third grade. That was when I finally was able to join the orchestra. I was so excited. I believe that due to my exposure to piano and playing music at such a young age, I was inspired and compelled to continue to immerse myself with music as I got older.
Beginning in kindergarten students go to school everyday and learn math and reading, some social studies and science, all important aspects of education; however, the one aspect that leads to the development of brain areas involved with language and reasoning, greater spatial intelligence, and ultimately becoming successful on standardized tests and obtaining higher grades is again left out of the schedule. As stated by Vince DiFiore’s in his CNN article The Importance of Music Education in Schools, music “students who learn to play an instrument develop a greater language capacity and a greater ability to learn a new language”. Additionally, spatial intelligence (according to the children’s music workshop as the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures) is useful in solving advanced mathematics problems and other puzzles. The link between music and other areas of education has already been discovered, let’s implement it. Give students the opportunity to experience music without the nagging act of parents or the stereotyping by other students. If music is a part of everyone’s at least weekly schedule through middle school then the differences can be monumental in the following years.
My music experience continued in middle school. Through out the year my classes changed ever nine weeks. Nevertheless, the one class that never changed was orchestra. The highlight of my day. Then before high school, I was faced with a decision. Do I continue or not? Well, I confess, I am in the orchestra. As nerdy or whatever the stereotypes may say as that is, I love it. It is my creative outlet and source of self-expression. I have learned some many things through music, persistence, teamwork, discipline, probably some spatial intelligence and hopefully some extra brain development. Music not only helps so mechanically but also very expressively.
Music can further influence students by fostering creativity through learning craftsmanship and feeding off self-expression. As a high school student, I know how important creativity is, when constructing projects or writing papers. Music possesses the ability to force students to think outside the box. Questions in music never have just one right answer. The possibilities and solutions stretch the imaginations and creativity when solving problems. Music also demands new levels of excellence through repetition, and exploiting inner resources. Without this method of self-expression, many students would never find their creative outlet. Their passion. “Everyone needs to be in touch at some time in his life with his core, with what he is and what he feels” (Children’s music workshop).
With music also comes a set of skills utilized greatly throughout life, including skills needed in the workplace, teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and conquering fears. Music instills teamwork and discipline whether in the practice room or in an orchestral or group setting. Musicians work together, harmoniously towards a common goal. Without the dedication or perseverance in the practice room, the ensemble would not reach its common goal. Instilling these life skills at a young age allows them to be a part of students’ common actions and routine. Thus ultimately preparing students for the understated aspects of life in the workplace. A place where focus is necessary and where employers are looking for more dimensional worker, which is created by a music education. Additionally with music comes performing and with performing often comes a little anxiety. As said in the article Twelve Benefits of Music Education, “a little anxiety is a good thing and something that will occur often in life”. Dealing with it early on often makes it easier to deal with later on in life. Practice makes perfect. That can be said for all of the life lessons music teaches its students.
Music, the universal language, never really spoken but can be heard everywhere. Overlooked as it may be, causes many positive influences on the people it touches. Implementing music programs around students at young ages promotes music as an aspect in their later lives. As elementary and middle school students music poses to develop areas of the brain otherwise untouched and weave habits and skills useful for other aspects of life. As high school students, music helps with the all-important standardized tests, such as the ACT and the SAT. Music only builds upon the foundation already laid by the “core classes”. As stated in Ben Niles documentary, Some Kind of Spark, “music is everywhere” there’s no avoiding it. So why not teach it? How about strum a guitar, tickle the ivories, play some Bach, whatever it is immerse yourself, because you never know, you could learn something new.