Music Matters: Creating a Future

Growing up in a small town, I was able to participate in a wide variety of activities.  As a result of the small population of my hometown, it was necessary for the students to take part in multiple groups in order for any of them to survive.  The music program in my hometown has continued to grow, due to the hard work of the teachers there.  The students in the programs love the teachers, and learning from their teacher's example have grown a love for music.  Last year, nearly 90% of the seniors graduating from the music program went on to play with music scholarships at college.  I, myself, was able to continue on to the college level because of people in my life who supported me, and had a love for music themselves.

Why aren't people taking advantage of this opportunity?  Although many went on to play in college, a good portion of the orchestra slowly whittled away over the years.  Students simply gave up because they did not want to practice, and were not motivated to do so by anyone.  They give it up to play sports, or dance, or pick up underwater basket-weaving.  They do so either because they did not enjoy the music, or did not have time to do both.  Although these other activities are well worth the effort and provide better hand eye coordination and a healthy lifestyle, the chance of pursuing a career in any of those areas is far less than that of pursuing a career in music.  The percentage of participants in sports that went on to get a scholarship at college was dramatically lower than that for music students.

“A grounding in the arts will help our children to see; to bring a uniquely human perspective to science and technology. In short, it will help them as they grow smarter to also grow wiser.”

Robert E. Allen – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AT&T Corporation 

Teachers and parents should be motivating their students and children to participate.  Even without taking into account all of the other benefits of music (better memorization, studies show better standardized test scores, etc) music can provide for their future.  It provides an instant social network at school.  A way to pay for school, while enjoying themselves.  Music careers exist in all shapes and sizes.  Music technology, performance, teaching, instrument making, recording, the list goes on and on.  Any future can be available through music.  My own future has been made possible through music.  I want to make sure that others have the same opportunity to make a future for themselves.  In anyway possible I hope to motivate others to love music, and find their own connection with it.  How has music affected your future?  What about your friend's or children's futures?  Music can provide them with a chance to achieve their dreams.  It has put me on the road to achieve mine.