Music…just because

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As I work my way through the music curriculum for another school year, I have added to my workload the responsibilities of delivering resource support to the students and teachers in the Primary to Grade 2 level at my school. I have learned much from this experience, enough to write two columns (so consider yourselves pre-warned!).

I use music to work on specific concepts in developing the skills of emergent readers and also to support the regular classroom teachers working on specific units of study. I find myself marveling at the versatility and power of music in the educational setting. At the same time, I think we all must be very careful to remember that music is not just a tool for teaching other subjects. Because music is such a great tool for teaching seemingly anything, sometimes we forget that it is worth doing simply because we enjoy doing it. Music for music’s sake is not a waste of time, nor does it require connections with other curriculum areas in order to lend it legitimacy.

Music has its own concepts and inherent skill sets which have proved valuable as an area of study. Students who are musical have the right, and often times a driving passion, to use the medium of music to express themselves and develop their creativity. Students for whom music is not such a driving force can also enjoy the music activities and skills they learn in music class. What a great area of study, where every person can participate at his or her own level and take away from the experience something positive and meaningful.

If you have ever been driving in the car and heard a song that was a hit in your childhood, somehow the music immediately transports you to another time and place and stirs memories you had forgotten about until the music returned it to your conscious memory. How many times have you lustily joined in the chorus of a familiar tune, not caring about anything but the joy of the moment? This is a powerful tool. If you think of the times in your life in which music has played an important part, you will find the list long and extensive. Giving children the gift of music can be the beginning of a relationship that remains meaningful and gratifying and spans a lifetime.

Why make music? It is an essential part of what makes human beings human. It provides a vehicle for expression and creativity. It is therapeutic and can bring pleasure and solace. It can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life regardless of skill level or choice of genre and can benefit both the listener and the creator. As if that were not enough, music is an awesome teaching tool. Its magic can often reach those who have been frustrated by other types of learning, and introduce them to the feelings of well-being and success that otherwise have eluded them. Music is fun.

Many years ago I was musing about music and its importance in everyday life. I wrote a poem that pretty much sums up the whole idea in a tidy circular package. It has found a place in my newest songbook, Dinosaurs, Dragons and Me as the forward to that collection of my songs. It seems to be just as appropriate now as it did when it was written over ten years ago.

When I learned my alphabet...there was music,
and it was fun to learn.

When I jumped rope at recess...there was music,
and it was fun to play.

When I had a birthday...there was music,
and it was my turn to be special.

When I went to camp...there was music,
and the magic of the campfire will stay with me always.

When I went to gymnastics,
figure skating or hockey...there was music,
and the moment was exciting.

When I had my first boyfriend...there was music,
and it was “our” song.

When I graduated from high school...there was music,
and I will remember that day forever.

When my Grandma died...there was music,
and I was comforted.

When I had a child...there was music,
and we sang as we cuddled and rocked.

When my child goes to school,
he will come home and tell me,
“I learned my alphabet... and there was music...”

In closing, let me be so bold as to declare that music is not the cure for all that needs fixing, but, like chocolate, is worth experiencing on a regular basis “just because.” Share the music, be human and enjoy it. A song in your heart will put a smile on your face.

Donna Rhodenizer is a composer, professional performer, recording artist, publisher and music educator in a public school in Kentville, NS.
www.redcastlepublishing.com.