Why Study Music?

Music has always played a major role in society. It exalts the human spirit and enhances the quality of life.
One fundamental purpose of education is to transmit our cultural heritage, and music is a powerful means for communicating that message.
Music helps students to develop and mature. Musical potential is one the basic abilities that exists in every human being.
Music in education provides both motivation and an opportunity for success for at-risk students.
Because it is essential that every student succeed in school, music should be used as a means for enhancing self-esteem, respect for others, and good citizenship.
Music study can help students understand the nature of mankind. It provides a readily accessible avenue to the study of other cultures.
Music uses one the the most powerful and complex symbol systems in existence, which can be used for the development of critical thinking skills in all students.

Music helps students with the aspects of life that cannot be quantified. Since much in education emphasizes true/false tests and other "objective" measures, students need experiences in which there are opportunities for several acceptable interpretations to any given problem. By providing exercises in creative problem solving through composition, performance, and listening, music brings a proper balance to the curriculum.