Benefits of Music Education
What are the importance and benefits of music education? What kind of career opportunities are there in music education?
Music education was first introduced in 1717. The purpose then was to improve the singing and music reading in the church. The first music textbook was first published around that time followed by a few hundred more.
More than a hundred years later the Boston Academy of Music was formed. Its purpose was to teach singing and the theory as well as methods of teaching music. In 1838 music education was introduced to public schools in the United States. Oberlin Conservatory was the first to introduce a four years music degree program earning the graduates the Bachelor of Music Education degree.
Before music education was introduced in schools, only certain children got the privilege to learn music. Ludwig van Beethoven who first performed in public when he was 7 years had his father as his first music teacher. There were several other tutors after that. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who composed about 600 works first learned music also from his father who was a minor composer and also an experienced teacher. He later learned from others.
After music education was introduced in public schools, it evolved. Learning music was no longer only for singing choirs in churches. It created awareness and appreciation. It brought about the rise of school bands and the orchestra movement. And new methods and curriculum were introduced.
The Benefits of Music Education
It teaches the basics of music.
Everyone can sing but only a few can sing in tune. Learning music makes you recognize that singing is not just to voice out a series of words in musical tones. One of the benefits of music education is the knowledge gained from learning music notes and techniques. It helps improve a person's ability to sing. This also applies to playing musical instruments. It's easier to learn any instrument if you know the basics.
It expands knowledge and creates appreciation.
Music falls under different genre, styles or categories such as A cappella, Jazz, R and B and Blues. These categories are divided into subgenres. Your knowledge about music will enable you to identify the different types of music. This knowledge will enable you to appreciate the distinctive styles and elements of each kind of music and its origins and become more sensitive.
It's teaches self-expression and engages the imagination.
Singing and playing musical instruments are healthy ways to express one's thoughts and feelings. Ludwig van Beethoven expressed his thoughts and wrote Wellington's Victory after the defeat of one of Napoleon's armies by a coalition of forces under the Duke of Wellington.
It teaches discipline.
College music education in particular is very taxing. You not only have to learn your own cultural music but that of other cultures. Passion and the love for music is a good start. But just like any other type of lessons and learning, discipline determines the finish line. It requires lots and lots of practice and patience.
It's stimulating.
Children get bored easily with school and learning when it's too theoretical and monotonous. Learning music is a great diversion and a fun thing to do. It also helps kids improve their listening ability and coordinating their minds and body. One of the other benefits of music education is it helps improve brain development and memory through learning, recognizing and interpreting music notes. It also helps in teaching the techniques of breathing when it involves wind instruments.
The most popular career in music education is becoming an educator. Other choices are becoming a music conductor in any music group including orchestras, band or choirs. A person can also choose to become a professional song writer, writing musical composition or melody to songs, or a member of a musical group.
Good music not only soothes the ears but also the mind. More adults are now taking music lessons as a hobby and a way to relax and unwind. It's a healthy way to de-stress from the daily clutters.
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