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Should Music Education be Mandatory in Public Schools?

Discussion in 'Music Ministry' started by FR7 Baptist, Apr 7, 2010.

  1. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

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    I think so. So many people live their lives only listening to music without participating in the music-making process. If only people would learn to sing or play an instrument, then they would have a deeper understanding and appreciation of music. Most people have a shallow understanding of music and it reflects in our culture. Studies have shown that school students who are involved in music education perform better in school and are less likely to do drugs or be disruptive in class. Music was once treated as a serious general academic subject, but now it's relegated to being an "elective" in high school curriculums. High school music programs are also vastly underfunded.

    For me, I first discovered the joys of music when I joined the high school choir at my church at age 14 back in August 2004. I also participated in the chorus at my high school. Now that I'm out of high school, I'm no longer in those groups, but I'm in the Chancel Choir at church and in a vocal ensemble there. Once my job starts and I get paid, I'm going to buy a bass guitar and take lessons so I can learn how to play it.

    In conclusion, the sorry state of American music education is a national disgrace. The failings of our public school system has led to us having the unenlightened masses that we have now who know nothing of music performance or music theory.
     
  2. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    When I was a driving instructor, I found those who participated in music and sports programs were better at learning how to drive.

    I credit it to adaptability to discipline.
     
  3. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    Sure. I think it should be.
     
  4. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    No, for a couple of reasons.

    It is a waste of tax dollars. I don't want tax dollars spent on education, so I certainly don't want them spent on music.

    Curently choir and band in school is a group of kids that generally want to be in that class. As such, the class is pretty effective at what it does. Make it a mandatory class and all the riff-raff that don't want to be in the class will be nothing but a distration. The kids that really want to be there will not get the same quality instruction as they would without the riff-raff.

    On a side note, the same theory holds true for normal schooling. Kids should not be required to attend school after the fifth grade. If we did that, the quality of education in the middle school and high school years would be far superior. We also wouldn't have a shortage of people available to work low income jobs. We are trying to force an unnatural distribution of education on this country. We need people that are uneducated to work jobs that require no education.
     
  5. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    The only "music" kids (especially teens) are interested in is rap or hard rock. Anything else bores them. In Bible college, my music teacher only liked classical gospel and wasn't interested in hearing anything else. He tried to force me to sing classical gospel and didn't like the country gospel that I prefer.
     
    #5 Jon-Marc, Apr 8, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 8, 2010
  6. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    Way overgeneralized.

    I've got several kids whose interests go across the board.
     
  7. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    Q: Should Music Education be Mandatory in Public Schools?

    A: I think in a perfect world, a greater emphasis on it would be nice. I think it nicely rounds out an education. In practical terms...probably not: we're not getting the basics good enough to move toward elective items being made mandatory.

    Furthermore...although music appreciation adds to one's life...it's possible to function very well without it. Try that without reading, or math.

    No, let's just stick to the basics right now. But maybe more parents can do what I do...and instill it in their kids outside of the school setting. After all, when it comes down to it, it's my job to see that my kids are ready for life...not the government's.
     
  8. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    This isn't true for many kids.

    My daughter is 17 and LOVES classical and old spiritual music. She loves to learn about music and how it works. Oh - and she hates rap and hard rock. :)
     
  9. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    Bingo! :applause:
     
  10. FriendofSpurgeon

    FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known Member
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    Really??? You must not have a lot of contact with teens. Some like pop, some like country (my daughter and friends go to a country music thing every year), some like classic rock (took my son to see Kansas and Bon Jovi -- too cool), some do like rap, and some do like hard rock/metal. Also down here, you have a lot of kids that like salsa. In any event, it's all over the board.
     
  11. FriendofSpurgeon

    FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known Member
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    In elementary school -- absolutely.

    In middle/high schools, it should be available as an elective.
     
  12. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I think music and art are very important to students and studies find that students who are exposed to both do better in school than those who don't. That said, I do think they need to have their proper place as additions to the curriculum and not replacements. Instead of getting rid of art and music, however, let's get rid of tolerance education, self-esteem education and teaching a full grade to the standardized test that will be held at the end of that year. This is just what happens in 4th grade in NY. The entire year is preparation for the 4th grade test.
     
  13. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

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    You paint with too broad of a brush. I have varied musical tastes, as do a lot of young people. Do you know any young people?
     
  14. SBCPreacher

    SBCPreacher Active Member
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    Couldn't have said it any better.
     
  15. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

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    No. A free country requires an educated electorate.

    That's true. I think it's a both/and scenario, not an either/or.
     
  16. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    So, we weren't free 150 years ago?
     
  17. FR7 Baptist

    FR7 Baptist Active Member

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    Maybe we should take this to another thread in the politics forum.
     
  18. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    If you wish, but then we'll miss the fun of someone yelling at me for derailing a thread. :laugh:
     
  19. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    150 years ago, you were very educatated with the 5th or 6th grade - no so today.
     
  20. FriendofSpurgeon

    FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known Member
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    I agree. Just because you have music, art, drama (and athletics) does not mean that you don't focus on mathmatics, sciences, history, literature, etc. I think the key word is balance. We have one son still in high school, and he has seven courses each semester. Having one course of stagecraft does not detract from his academic courses. In fact, it gives him somewhat of a break from his normal (very tough) day.
     
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