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Tucker Andrew Gillihan Music Education Philosophy When looking at different regions, cultures, ethnicities, languages, and other

factors that separate the human race into many categories of life around the world, it is noticeable that there are completely diverse ways of life. In my eyes music is one of the prominent things in life that binds humanity together and is a phenomenon that can relate people to each other. I completely agree that music is a complex function of the mind (Reimer), basic mode of cognition (Reimer), and a pervasive quality of mental life. (Daugherty) It is all around us and is part of everyones life no matter what age a person is. There should be a deep understanding of what music is within everyone. It is a part of our beating heart, footsteps, and waving arms as we greet people. It is in the wind that blows our hair around, the leaves that fall on the ground on a cool fall day, and the clocks that give us a international relation to human kind. We should all prosper from the deep underlining of our expression through music as it is the one thing the we can all use to make a statement, show an emotion, or anything that is being felt in a persons heart. I believe that there is a higher, spiritual presence that gives humans the gift of music. Music is a prominent factor in our lives. Teaching music is a path to enculturation. We are inherently bound to music from birth to death. Starting from an early age, music needs be focal point in the thinking process. Music is the one activity of humans than can be reachable, applicable, and accessible to all. There is an intelligence in everyones mind that can be stimulated by using the tools and guides of musicianly practice. The classes in the Fine Arts programs in the schools are what really helped define the artists we have today including

musicians, painters, and even architects. Only by continuing to allow students to explore these ways of learning will this portion of the economy continue to grow. (CMW) I believe music should be taught to all persons in some way. I feel that it is a natural instinct we all have and human beings. Music is a prevalent resource we have in our bodies. The rhythmic nature of our person binds us to music immediately. Music, in my eyes, is something that is beyond our control and should be accepting into everyones life with complete open arms. Every person needs to have the opportunity to be enriched in the glory of music. If more people to open to being in a class about music maybe they would actually find that it could be something they might enjoy and even strive for a career in it. I believe that everyone needs a border-line basis of understanding of what music is and a knowledge of how music works in our lives. In a classroom setting that allows for a set list of pieces to be performed, I believe that there should always be a challenging piece to help with the growth of each musician without overloading the brain. There should definitely be more rote teaching in the younger stages of learning musicians to develop a good ear. Basics are key in the music process. There can many branched off types of music that can be taught after there is an understanding of how music really works. There should always be that strive to create the best musician in you so you can pass what you know to the next generation. There should be a mentor/coach that is able to incorporate all the means necessary in order to have a successful student. Through the challenges that the teacher creates, the teacher should be able to have a positive self-growth and self-knowledge while being able to keep the enjoyment level high. An excellent curriculum is an excellent teacher (Elliot) was stated by Elliot during his writings. There needs to be a wide range of musical listenings. Pieces should be

taught as a whole then should be examined to form a response. The teacher needs to have a descriptive language, not an interpretive language. Students within the music world have a reported lower use of substances. With the discipline of music study, a student can learn how to work efficiently in school. Skills learned through music can transfer to multiple other skills such as study skills and communication skills. Studies by Dr. Timo Krings have shown that musicians and non-musicians are able to complete a sequence of finger movements and reach the same score, but the musicians were able to use less activity in the brain. Studying music is a way to incorporate self-diligence in your life while getting a self-gratifying feeling. Natural News reported a compilation of research findings from scientists around the world using different methods of testing and they all came to the conclusion that musical training has a profound impact on other skills including speech and language, memory and attention, and even the ability to convey emotions vocally. (NN) After giving much thought about my views, I feel that I have an intertwined philosophy combining sensibility and musicianship. We all need to be able to express ourselves with ways that allows us freedom in which we want to express. Music is a gift that should be practiced whether it is on a social, professional, or teaching level. It is a fundamental, perceptual phenomenon. It is part of the blood that rushing through our veins and helps gives us life. There are people around the world that would give up their lives to be able to see children learn music legally and gain a vast knowledge of the world around them. We should all treat music as something that can combine different worlds into one. Everyone needs the opportunity to be a part of something that could have the possibility of defining who they are in life. Music could be that defining moment for that student you see walking down the hall every day, but there is not a way of knowing unless there is an option for that kid.

Works Cited Daugherty, James F. "Why Music Matters: The Cognitive Personalism of Reimer And Elliott."Why Music Matters: The Cognitive Personalism of Reimer And Elliott. Australian Journal of Music Education, 1996. Web. 01 Nov. 2012. <http://web.ku.edu/~cmed/private/daugherty.html>.

Reimer, B. (1989). A Philosophy of Music Education. Second edition. Englewood Cliffs, N]: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Elliott, D. (1995). Music Matters: A New Philosophy of Music Education. New York: Oxford University Press.

"Wy Teach Music?" Wy Teach Music? 2012 Children's Music Workshop, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2012. <http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/whyteachmusic.html>.

"Music Benefits the Brain, Research Reveals." Music Benefits the Brain, Research Reveals. Truth Publishing International, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2012. <http://www.naturalnews.com/029324_music_brain.html>.

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