the art in smart.
music was vital to all of my educational experiences.
as a musician, it may seem expected, but while my access to music programs from an early age helped me realize my career and personal dreams/callings, making music accessible is mentally, socially, emotionally, cognitively, physically, (it goes on!) to all students.
not all school settings, especially in public schools, offer free, educational music experiences.
but they should.
music education is a vital, under-recognized preventative for the anxiety, stress, and depression in adolescents, as well as a natural method for establishing community, healthy social interaction, and group cohesion amongst peers. implementing group music through the chorus or band curriculums sets a new standard for peer support, and instills confidence, self-empowerment, and purpose in each student, while they actively engage nearly every single region of the brain.
look at this overview of a brain engaged in music (source: daniel levitin, this is your brain on music).
music education provides an appealing opportunity for students to establish neural pathways in the brain, preparing students to exceed in their academic studies with improved attention, ability to multi-task, and memory recall. it prepares them to engage in active listening experiences with their peers, and establishes a sense of individual purpose and contribution to the whole. students who participate in music programs have a lower risk of engaging in self-destructive activities, including drug or alcohol use.
the brain is a pattern-seeking organ. nicu staff and the music therapy board (www.musictherapy.org) conceived substantial research that recognizes the innate connection and ability to interpret musical rhythm. infants (and even fetuses!) can recognize rhythmic patterns.
from the opposite end of human life, individuals who studied music or actively practiced or composed on an instrument have shown a higher resistance to premature aging, memory loss, and dementia. implementing music in the student’s life now is vital to ensuring lifelong learning. human beings are designed for music, and therefore making music education accessible and encouraged for everyone is best serving the student growth.
(sources: http://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music.aspx
https://www.musictherapy.org/research/factsheets/
https://www.nammfoundation.org/why-music-matters?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjc6T1rvW2QIVAghpCh3M6g9GEAAYASAAEgJr8fD_BwE)
grace vanderwaal x uproxx media
i recently had the privilege of meeting this amazing, young artist, grace vanderwaal and being a part of this video advocating to bring music to more school settings.
check out this beautiful video
(and her music if you haven't!).
how to write a letter to a school board:
1. be clear and direct. deliver your arguments with confidence and respect.
2. use science, outside resources, and data to support your statements (you aren't begging for extra yellow glitter in the art rooms, you're advocating for a neurological, emotional, and social experience for the benefit of all student participants).
i recommend as suggested reading:
musicophila by oliver sacks
this is your brain on music by daniel levitin
3. relate to personal experience, but don't let personal experience dominate the letter. make it clear that while your experiences are unique to you, they are representative of the benefits of music for all students.
4. try to find links between current events, issues, or the social climate at this specific school/institution. (for example, were students recently affected by a violent act? is there an growing drop-out rate? are teachers and faculty members struggling to keep students off technology and attentive in classes?)
5. keep it short, but provide your contact info and leave your door open for further conversation.
here are some of my favorite talks on this topic:
"what if every child had access to music education from birth?" tedx by anita collins
"how music can heal the mind and the heart" tedx by dr. kathleen howland
"why music education belongs in public schools" featuring berklee president roger brown
there is no "smart" without "art."
GM