Why Music?

1. Music contributes to the school and community environment (quality of life).

2. Music helps prepare students for a career and is an avocation.

3. Music makes the day more alive and interesting, which in turn leads to more learning.

4. Music combines behaviors to promote a higher order of thinking skills.

5. It provides a way to image and create, contribute to self-expression and creativity.

6. Music enriches life, it is a way to understand our cultural heritage as well as other past and present cultures. (see article by Bill Pharis)

7. Performing, consuming and composing are satisfying and rewarding activities.

8. Music contributes to sensitivity (see Gloria Kiester's articleÑTeaching Music for "feelingful intelligence).

9. Music education provides for perceptualÑmotor development.

10. It encourages team work and cohesiveness.

11. It fosters creativity and individuality.

12. Music education adds to self-worth of participants.

13. Music education fosters discipline and commitment.

14. It is a major source of joy and achievement.

15. Music provides unique and distinct modes of learning (see article by Howard Gardner).

16. Music is a therapeutic outlet for human beings.

17. It is a predictor of life's success (see article by National Association of Secondary School Principals).

18. It develops intelligence in other areas (see articles by Wendell Harrison, Howard Gardner, Malcom Browne and Tom Cohen).

19. To provide success for some students who have difficulty with other aspects of the school curriculum.

20. To help the student realize that not every aspect of quantifiable and that it is important to cope with the subjective.

from "Why Is Music Basic? The Value of Music Education" childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/musicisbasic.html