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Recommended: Choice of career
Majoring in Music
Music has always been an important part of my life. Upon entering the fifth grade, my parents bought me a flute, at my insistence. After moderate success playing the flute, I saw greener grass on the other side of the musical fence. Singing just had to be easier than making music with a long metal pipe. My perception and reality did not exactly match. Singing has its own subtleties and complexities which are not readily apparent to the casual observer. Abandoning the flute for singing, I began taking voice lessons in the tenth grade. My voice teacher was very experienced and encouraged me to pursue my interest in music beyond high school. After much deliberation, I decided to major in voice during college. This path would be fraught with unforeseen difficulties and exciting challenges.
After announcing my decision to a number of friends and acquaintances, I began to encounter not a few misconceptions about the study of music. Many people readily expressed their uninformed opinion that music (particularly vocal performance) was an easy college major for anyone with a modicum of talent: “Just open your mouth and let the music pour out.” Some showed their ignorance by commenting that music majors had both light and easy course loads. There are even some people who refuse to acknowledge that music is a serious academic discipline. They believe music is a refuge for slackers who do not want to tackle the really difficult courses. Others have insinuated
that music majors choose a career in music by default (i.e., because they could not think of anything better to study).
Of course, none of these perceptions are true. Two short months studying music on the college level has exploded these misconceptions. The study of music is a rigorous academic discipline which only gets more difficult as one progresses further into the curriculum. While our professors are understanding and helpful, we certainly are not coddled. Music majors quickly learn that hard work and long hours is the price of success in the world of music. The subject matter demands dedication and discipline.
Music majors do have some respite from the demands of our discipline. For voice majors, there is choir. Choir provides an opportunity to learn in a more passive manner. The choir director leads the members of the choir toward the desired goal – the mastery of the piece of music to be performed. While choir members must be attentive and receptive, the burden is primarily carried by the director.
Within school, I have participated in Glee Club/Chorus and Drama Club. I have a strong interest and love of both and hope to continue with them in the future. Last year, I had the privilege of being selected for our school's select choir, North Naturals. The Congregation Sons of Israel in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania honored us with the chance to perform at their annual Holocaust Memorial Service. The Messiah College Women's Choir also invited us to perform as a guest in their annual spring concert, in which I performed a solo, along with some members of the Women's Chorus. This year, I consider it a great prestige to say I participate in my school's select choir for ninth- and tenth-graders- Cantamos. In Drama Club, I have performed a variety
Music is a passion of mine, this comes with my love for performing on-stage. I play guitar in the School Ensemble and clarinet in the School Concert. I was also proud to be awarded a third place for reciting the Quran (in Arabic) at the Annual Qirath Competition 2014, which is indeed a vocal competition.
Whether the student is a beginner, or someone who has studied music for a number of years, the way in which one views oneself as a musician can be an important factor in the kinds of experiences one has with music. A quality music education is one that challenges students to set clear and achievable goals, think musically and critically, and apply what one has learned in a meaningful way. If a musician harbors a negative view of his or her musical abilities, the lasting effects of this view on his or her musical experiences and achievement could be challenging to overcome.
Music plays a major role in life for most people. It can soothe and excite, encourage sleep and encourage dancing, we can sing to it and ponder it. There are so many different uses of music and so many mediums through which to play it such as Pandora, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Beyond that, more songs every day there are new songs being written. Statistics show that ninety-five percent of all Americans think that music is a core part of a balanced and well-rounded education. The same study showed that ninety-three percent of Americans thought music belonged in the public schooling system, and seventy-nine percent even suggested that music education should be mandatory for all students. Still, studies show that a staggering twenty percent of high school students choose
I have had many music experiences through high school. But, becoming drum major, singing at nursing homes, and meeting Miss Lucas has had the greatest impact on my life. Through these experiences I have realized that my goal in life is to
Now, I am at a point in my life where I realize that academics are not everything and that learning goes much beyond the traditional classroom setting. Music has opened up my eyes to the world that surrounds me, and I have indulged myself in numerous new passions because of it: playing the guitar, composing music, and joining new clubs and activities. Most importantly of all, however, I had discovered the joy of learning that became lost in my perfectionist ideals. Now, school no longer requires impeccability, but making mistakes that lead to furthering my education and bettering me as a
With school budget cuts, and no music instruments, more and more people are beginning to realize the benefits of having music in education. Providing music as part of education helps develop intelligence that leads to greater success in school and in life. Everyone from VH1 Save The Music to The National Association For Music Education agree that, “Every student in the nation should have an education in the arts.” These two companies are doing everything they can to get out the information about music, and the importance of resorting music education as part of the core curriculum.
Music has always been an important part of my life. During high school I have developed areas of service and leadership through interests in children and gardening, which will continue to be major parts of my life.
Steven, Kelly, N. (2002). A Sociological Basis For Music Education. International Journal of Music Education. 43. Pp. 40-49
middle of paper ... ... Music was not taught in the high school I was in. To satisfy my interest in learning about music and how to play musical instruments, I had to find a source of education other than school; a great depiction in agreement with Graff’s claim that students are being limited by not considering their interests when creating curricula (Graff 197). In conclusion, education is broader than just falling into what the contemporary school system has to offer. Both Gatto and Graff proved this by explaining how conforming students to certain perspectives of education limits their potential in other educational branches that interest the students.
Many public schools offer music education as part of their curriculum. Although these classes are required, many schools choose not to allocate enough money into the music programs in favor of better scores on standard tests. Recently there have been many strides to strengthen the importance of music education.
Music education is more than just a subject in a school, its a science class, a math class, an english class, of course it can be a history class, and even a physical education class. Music takes all of the core school subjects and combines them all into one subject that can be understood anywhere in the world at any given moment. Music is a science because there are special elements that it takes to create a symphony that could quite possibly taken three long years to compose and produce. Music is math all because you have to know how to count a certain number of measures of rest, know how to count the time that the song could be written in and many many more other variations of counting time and for keeping time. You might be asking yourself
Music has absolutely been an enormous part of my life and who I am. However,
The Scholar (that lives in my mind): What is that woman saying!? Drop my AP classes so that I'll have more time for piano? Does she realize that piano isn't life? Or at least not my life? I've taken ten years of music, I think that's enough. I'd rather be spending my time becoming a more prolific writer. That's were my passion lies, not in music. Music is just romanticized math. It doesn't say anything deeper than its title. Not anything specific, at least.
Music is a very important part of our lives you need to have skills, know your responsibilities, talents and strengths. Singers are everywhere in the world. Singers can help with developing disability's and stops stuttering, singers are good for society.