Commentary
Music Thrives for Students’ Schools, Lives, and Futures
By Darcy Nendza and Madeline WoodPlease take a moment and think about how much music is present in everyday life. Events such as weddings, funerals, assemblies, football games, graduations, and even presidential inaugurations have components of live music. Recorded music is omnipresent in the car, stores, work, and home.
Schools with strong music programs connect students with this important piece of the human experience through both study and creation.
Creativity. As the world changes at a rapid pace, students will continuously need to reinvent themselves for future opportunities. Music teaches students how to put together learned skills into a completely new form, unheard before. Taking pieces of knowledge and combining them with new ideas will be paramount for student success.
Collaboration. Music is created by groups of people. Those people must work in concert toward a common goal for any performance or rehearsal to be successful. Teaching students how to work as a group is a vital role of the school. Today’s world tends to be divisive on many topics. Music teaches us that people with different opinions on many topics can come together in harmony to create something beautiful.
Connection. Each student brings different experiences and expectations to the school day. Music gives many students a reason to come to school and a way to connect with the school community. Giving students a well-rounded education allows for all students to find their place and reveals a district’s commitment to a complete curriculum.
Once the school board has committed to supporting high-quality music education in the district on a philosophical level, what concrete actions can be taken to follow through?
Budget support. The board can make sure that music education is well-supported in the district budget. Music educators should have access to funds to provide the necessary curriculum, equipment, maintenance of that equipment, and to provide students with outside opportunities to grow their music education.
Attend music programs in the district: From kindergarten sing-a-longs to elementary performances to band, chorus, and orchestra concerts, there are many opportunities for board members to have a presence.
Recognize successful musicians in the district. Solo and ensemble participants, ensemble festival attendance, Illinois Music Honor Society participation, or any other noteworthy event can be recognized at a regular monthly board meeting.
Members of the United CUSD 304 (Monmouth) community offer these thoughts on the importance of music education:
“Music is important in many ways,” says Dana Poole, United School Board President. “It develops students’ minds and helps them to learn to memorize. It teaches patience and to work as a team, which will help them in the future with their careers. It is something they can enjoy for the rest of their lives. Fine Arts are important to the board because it makes better students. It gives them opportunities, a chance to be involved, more responsibility, and they can express themselves. It also gives them more confidence. It is nice to have them play for the school board so they can show us their talents. It would be nice to have the school board members attend concerts to show support for them. The school board members need to encourage the music students by talking to them to show interest in what they are doing.”
Jill Jenks, a member of the United CUSD 304 Board of Education, says, “Music education is important to a great deal of students; as are varying options for non-traditional instruction within the school day. All students have their gifts, interests, and talents, and it is important as a public school that we provide a wide variety of places for students to ‘plug in’ and learn throughout their school lives. Some students may find their way with a pencil and paper, some a book, some in the shop, others in the art room, on the ball field or court, and many may find their way in the band or choir room. Each of these places provides a ‘home’ for varying students; a place where a kid can feel like they belong, a place that just fits and feels right.
“As a public school board member,” Jenks continues, “I am convinced that providing the widest available opportunities for our students will always reap dividends. School is a safe place to learn and try new things, a place to explore a world that may not be offered to them within the walls of their home. Music education is just one way we can expose students to a lifelong skill and appreciation for a specialized subject. Perhaps more than some other subjects, music surrounds us throughout the course of our lives and has the ability to travel with a student throughout their adulthood. Music education can provide a community that feels like family for students while in school, and it can give students a chance to shine in their own way.
“Like everything within a school, communication is key and the open sharing of what is going on within the music department keeps the school board informed about how much impact and prevalence they are having on the daily lives of their students. Share away and always let the board know the positives. It’s great to see the impact that music can have on a student’s life.”
In a time of strained resources, schools need to look to curricular elements that teach life-long skills. Music connects all of us and provides those skills to students. It is important for school boards to emphasize the need for high-quality music education for all students.
Darcy Nendza is Executive Director of the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) and Board President for CCSD 146 School based in Tinley Park and Orland Park. Madeline Wood is ILMEA District 2 President, TeachPlus Fellow, and a Music Educator at the junior and senior high schools at United CUSD 304 in Monmouth. The Journal thanks the authors and Lori Evenhouse from ILMEA for working with the Journal on this piece.