Philosophy of Music Education It should not only be a guarantee that a student can participate in music, but it should be a necessity.

There are so many benefits that come from involvement in music. The most popular reason is that learning to play music increases cognitive development and raises standardized test scores. While this may be a great reason, not only is it difficult to test if it actually does increase test scores, but music offers so much more. Music provides students with the opportunity to better themselves it aids in emotion and sensitivity development. This is crucial, especially for those students struggling with adolescence. It allows an outlet for e!pression and benefits self"esteem. While many say that students can simply get these e!periences from other clubs or teams, there is less of a stereotype that comes with being in music. There tends to be a certain stigma with other groups such as the very physical #oc$s play football or the social, popular girls are cheerleaders. Music seems to be void of this stigma. %y learning to read and play music and, the student utilizes both sides of the brain. While the right side processes melody, the left side process tempo and rhythm. Music is an area of learning that benefits even the average student as well as students who participate in other activities, so by developing both sides of the brain, the student increases their creative, right side brain and their logical, left side brain. Music provides opportunities not only for average students, but for the disabled, elderly, or those who literally may not be able to physically or mentally be involved in other organizations. Involvement in music can continue past school and can foster lifelong music participation or appreciation. My goal is not necessarily to have students playing in ensembles for the rest of their life, but to find ways to continue to appreciate it. This can be through listening to different genres of music or by enrolling their children in music classes. Music also provides a large sense of diversity and study of people of the world. Music is universal and found throughout the farthest reaches of the world. Through playing music from &frica to learning about the various different &sian instruments, this study of the music of different cultures and people fosters citizenship and develops moral character. It provides a sense of community, especially

between the minority and ma#ority groups. 'ltimately, it enriches one(s life in ways that only music is capable of doing.