James B. Hetrick
Professor Joy Cooney
English 1010 22 Apr 2015
Public School Music: Are We Preaching to the Choir?
Words can often fail us when we want to convey our emotions. In fact, words can even be our downfall in certain situations. What do we use when we have no words? One of the most commonly used ways is through music. Music serves as an outlet to express our feelings and just escape from the trying times we might be facing. . Unfortunately people within the education system are starting to wipe out music from any and all forms of curriculum to support programs such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs (STEM). There are people however who support music and how it promotes current core curriculum classes, …show more content…
The key difference is that children aren’t taught how to create the music on their own with the resources available to them from just the radio or MTV. Having students experience the collaborative effort in making music with their peers is a very beneficial strategy in education. Songs such as the “ABC’s” or the “Days of the Week” song have been tools used for years to help educate children on basic subjects. Having a class sing a song like these can help with memorization of everyday knowledge. On a larger scale, students can write a song to help them learn core subjects, such as a song performed on Disney’s Hannah Montana in 2007. A song was performed explaining how each bone was connected “My body's many parts, And this is where it starts phalanges I have ten, And Metatarsals then I got some tarsals too, I'll put them in my shoes. The Fibula is next, According to my text. Then comes the tibia, That ain't no fibia And now I'm up to my knee. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Thats the petela to me”(Christiansen). Even on a fictitious television series, music in schools is stressed as being …show more content…
Whether it be the increased scores in core curriculum classes, the flowing creativity of ones mind or even the physical connections made, music has earned a place in schooling and deserves to receive funding from the schools. The best way the average American can help fight for music programs is to write their state’s senator and express concerns toward the continuation of the programs. It’s our duty to provide what’s best for our nations children, so let’s start here.
Work Cited
Christiansen, Roger, dir. "Get Down, Study-udy-udy." Hannah Montana. Disney Channel. Los Angeles, California, 26 Apr. 2007. Television.
Eckart Altenmüller, Stanley Finger and François Boller. “Progress in Brain Research. ” Hannover, Germany: Elsevier, 2014. Print.
Hulburt, Catherine. “Graduation Rates and Keeping Students ‘On Track’.” NAfME. NAfME, 24 Sept, 2014. Web. 1 Apr. 2015.
Mellory, Caroline. “The Effect of Music on Math and Science Standardized Test Scores”. Diss. 12-13. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
“Every Brain Needs Music.” Portland Chamber Orchestra. SHF Foundation. 2013. Web. 1 Apr. 2015.
Robinson, Sir Ken. “RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms.” YouTube. YouTube, LLC, 14 Oct 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.
Wooton, Victor. "Music as a Language: Victor Wooten at TEDx Gabriola Island." YouTube. YouTube,
Professor Joy Cooney
English 1010 22 Apr 2015
Public School Music: Are We Preaching to the Choir?
Words can often fail us when we want to convey our emotions. In fact, words can even be our downfall in certain situations. What do we use when we have no words? One of the most commonly used ways is through music. Music serves as an outlet to express our feelings and just escape from the trying times we might be facing. . Unfortunately people within the education system are starting to wipe out music from any and all forms of curriculum to support programs such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs (STEM). There are people however who support music and how it promotes current core curriculum classes, …show more content…
The key difference is that children aren’t taught how to create the music on their own with the resources available to them from just the radio or MTV. Having students experience the collaborative effort in making music with their peers is a very beneficial strategy in education. Songs such as the “ABC’s” or the “Days of the Week” song have been tools used for years to help educate children on basic subjects. Having a class sing a song like these can help with memorization of everyday knowledge. On a larger scale, students can write a song to help them learn core subjects, such as a song performed on Disney’s Hannah Montana in 2007. A song was performed explaining how each bone was connected “My body's many parts, And this is where it starts phalanges I have ten, And Metatarsals then I got some tarsals too, I'll put them in my shoes. The Fibula is next, According to my text. Then comes the tibia, That ain't no fibia And now I'm up to my knee. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Thats the petela to me”(Christiansen). Even on a fictitious television series, music in schools is stressed as being …show more content…
Whether it be the increased scores in core curriculum classes, the flowing creativity of ones mind or even the physical connections made, music has earned a place in schooling and deserves to receive funding from the schools. The best way the average American can help fight for music programs is to write their state’s senator and express concerns toward the continuation of the programs. It’s our duty to provide what’s best for our nations children, so let’s start here.
Work Cited
Christiansen, Roger, dir. "Get Down, Study-udy-udy." Hannah Montana. Disney Channel. Los Angeles, California, 26 Apr. 2007. Television.
Eckart Altenmüller, Stanley Finger and François Boller. “Progress in Brain Research. ” Hannover, Germany: Elsevier, 2014. Print.
Hulburt, Catherine. “Graduation Rates and Keeping Students ‘On Track’.” NAfME. NAfME, 24 Sept, 2014. Web. 1 Apr. 2015.
Mellory, Caroline. “The Effect of Music on Math and Science Standardized Test Scores”. Diss. 12-13. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.
“Every Brain Needs Music.” Portland Chamber Orchestra. SHF Foundation. 2013. Web. 1 Apr. 2015.
Robinson, Sir Ken. “RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms.” YouTube. YouTube, LLC, 14 Oct 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.
Wooton, Victor. "Music as a Language: Victor Wooten at TEDx Gabriola Island." YouTube. YouTube,