Should training in music performance or art be required of all high school students? Why or why not?
I am doing an arguing a position paper and would greatly appreciate it if you guys helped me out and gave me your thoughts on whether or not you believe music classes or art should be required of all high school students. Please feel free to use personal experiences or what ever you like! Thank you!
Michael Cho
I am actually a music education major so I might just have a start for you. (and I would hate to be out of a job =)
Especially if you are in a public school system or a big city music education allows students to make a bond that can potentially last them grade 4-12.
Depending on your town/city size, some classes can be as few as 10 students allowing each student to have a lot of individual attention. In a setting like band or chorus, it is the opposite. You can potentially be in a class with 100 plus kids. It allows students to govern themselves and learn the ability to lead and teach peers. In a high school setting, there are no "lessons" in the town I taught in. But every day there is 1 group that is assigned to a sectional … mon. clarinet, tues trumpet, wed. sax/bass thurs. percussion, fri. oboe/flute. the sectionals take place during my rehearsal time, but the students are set to a different location. Each group is assigned a section leader and are ranked by musical talent. there are usually 2 heads of section, 1 who can play amazingly and 1 who is very skilled at working with rhythms. This allows, the rhythm person to listen and pick out mistakes, and the "star" to be the example. It teaches leadership and allows the other students to both learn from some one their own age and strive to lead and improve their section and school community. Often times the kids learn best from someone who is not a staff member.
Many times budgets get cut and music is the first to go. This is disappointing, and hurts the students. Not all parents know music, so the kids often do not have the opportunity to sing or play an instrument at home or with a private teacher on the outside.
As far as listening to composers go- the different genres allow the individual to learn what they like and what they do not. I allow students to bring in their own pieces and we analyze them (listening for key signatures, instruments and patterns)- the kids go "Oh, this is the connection between all of the songs I like". It's almost the same concept of school itself- You are forced to do math, science, history, art and what not to se what you like and what you do not.
Hope this gives you a start and best of luck
http://www.WatchMojo.com presents… A look at Ashley Tisdale's rehearsal for High School Musical.