Music Education by William H. Yoh, Jr.

As music educators, we are constantly asked by legislators, citizens, and fellow teachers the persistent question "Why is your music class so important and why should the government and/or school continue to support it?' These questions come up frequently during a time of increased budget cuts, block scheduling, and growing emphasis on the core curriculum. We spend so much of our time developing our program intensely that we are at times oblivious to the naive attitudes of our peers. We must take the time to address these concerns and educate children and adults alike to what we do for a living and why it is so very important

When pressed to justify the importance of your program, ask your colleagues the following question, "When was the last time you listened to music?" The chances are pretty good that they experienced some sort of music in the past day or so. Music, whether instrumental or vocal, finds its way into practically every aspect of our daily lifestyle. Once you turn on the morning news broadcast, you undoubtedly hear a tune to distinguish one channel from another. When tuning into your favorite radio/TV talk show, soap opera, or situation comedy, you will note that each has a theme song or melody that sets the mood for the duration of the program. Also, the weekend date at the movies wouldn't quite be the same minus the music. Without the acoustical experience, your ticket just isn't worth the money that it cost.

Have your listeners considered the importance of all music genres and how they are essential to every festivity in their lives? For instance, the spirit of the Holiday Season wouldn't quite be as festive if it were not for the plethora of melodies that are heard during its celebration. A wedding and funeral would take on an entirely different meaning if it were not for the traditional compositions that are usually performed to glorify or mourn. A graduation exercise wouldn't be ceremonial without the band's rendition of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance." Finally, the trek to the annual circus and carnival wouldn't be quite as memorable without the aid of the band belting out lively marches and melodious waltzes.