WHY I TEACH MUSIC

I don't teach you music because it's a science, even though we have acoustics, and everything we have to deal with.

I don't teach it because it's math, and you gotta sub-divide and do all that.

I don't teach it because it's a foreign language, even though it's Italian and German and all those languages.

I don't teach it because it's history, even though music always reflects part of our time.

I don't teach it because it's physical education, even though we go out there, and march around and do all that stuff.

I don't teach it for any of those reason.

I teach it 'cause it's an art.

Because it allows the human being to take dry, and boring things and create an emotion. That's one thing that a computer still can't do.

It can't create emotion.

I don't teach you music because I expect you to go out and major in music.

I don't teach it to you because I expect you to play, or sing all your life, even though I'd like you to.

I don't teach it to you so you can relax and have fun either.

I teach it to you so you'll be human, and so you'll recognize beauty.

And so you'll be sensitive.

And so you'll be closer to an infinite beyond this world.

And so you'll have something to cling to.

And so you'll have more love and more compassion, and more gentleness, and more good.

And in short, so you'll have some more life.

Of what value is it going to be for you to make a prosperous living unless you've learned how to live.

That's why I'm teaching you music.