Why do we study music in schools? Isn’t it enough to know what you like? Why is it important to know anything about Bach, Beethoven, or Dizzy Gillespie? Who cares what a fugue is? They never play a fugue on my radio station, do they? And why can’t they make up their minds about who wrote which symphony? If Haydn wrote more than a hundred of them and Mozart wrote more than forty, how did Beethoven write the Ninth Symphony after they were both dead? Why teach someone to be a musician? If someone wants to be a musician, all he or she really needs to do is learn a couple of chords and swear a lot. Good looks and a choreographer wouldn’t hurt, but music schools don’t teach those things. Speaking of music schools, why would anyone choose music as a college major? Hardly anyone makes a living playing piano or trumpet anymore. What else can you do with a music degree, other than teach? The answer to that final question is probably the easiest to provide. Music majors at UAH earn a Liberal Arts degree, which qualifies them for numerous music and non-music careers. Specifically, UAH music graduates are currently pursuing careers in performance, education, retail music, arts administration, music therapy, software engineering, recording engineering, church music, radio, banking, insurance, etc.
Works Cited: Bowyer, Don. "Why Study Music?." www.uah.edu 27 July 2009http://www.uah.edu/music.whymusic.html>
Sadly, this post makes it seem that musical talent is on the decline in the world. Society should try to do a better job at promoting all of the opportunities for music students so that art and culture do not suffer as a result. I particularly am suprised by the wide variety of opportunities that are open to holders of liberal arts degrees and music majors listed at the bottom of the post. However, more work must be done to save the music in our world. We should all do our part and encourage people with musical talent to use it to the fullest.
ReplyDeleteI know several people, five now that I think about it, who’ve earned music-related degrees. They studied it because they love it. None of them are working in the music industry to support their families, but they’re all either are doing or have done some professional work. Those that aren’t now likely will again. One is a church music director – it’s a part-time thing requiring full-time effort. He gets paid for it, but he does it because he loves it. Others teach music or will again because they enjoy it so much. Money isn’t their motivation, but it seems like a profitable hobby. They’re fortunate to know so much about a subject their so passionate about.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend whos majoring in music therapy at Temple, theres a lot more to music than just listening to it in the car. Even if a person wants to be a musician, they need to know about music theory, because certain sound arrangements are more pleasing than others and as a musician one must need to know that.
ReplyDeleteI’ve always liked music even if I did go to catholic school. I think it does benefit people of all ages to have some type of music class. I’m not a music major but I love all different types of music and I do think it helps to stimulate the creative side in you. I know some schools are thinking about dropping music classes as a way to help their budget. I feel this would be a terrible idea. Music helps bridge all different life styles, helps bring different people together with a common interest and can bring up your mode level.
ReplyDeleteI think that music is a part of our life. when people are stressed or in mood of relaxing they should listen to music because I think that music are really relaxing. We learn music to understand it. some people dont like listening to music but believe its really relaxing but, you should know the meaning of it and the theories behind it then it is fun and relaxing. Music is a part of everyone's life and it brings a lot of joy. i love listening to music with i m tired or stressed.
ReplyDeleteMusic is in our everyday life. You listen to music daily; there hasn’t been a day in my life when I haven’t listened to music at least once a day. Music is important to us so I think we all should respect it and respect the art of the music as well. I personally think that all the major artists and singers have become singers mainly because of the talent; you have to have it in you. Yes there is a lot to learn in music but just like in anything else, you need motivation.
ReplyDeleteMusic might not seem like an important major but you have to keep in mind other than America there is an outside world. My mother came to America when she was 17 years old and prior to her arrival she was studying to go to a conservatory in Russia; since back than in Russia becoming a musician was just as much of a financial means in a career as a computer programmer might be considered today. Even to this day in Europe becoming a musician is not viewed upon as a bad career choice because in there society its a very important role of society.
ReplyDeleteI think the education system doing a great thing by allowing teaching music in schools. I think studying music will allow people to develop creativity that they will be able to apply to other areas of life. I never had the opportunity and I`ll glad that it will be possible for my baby boy to study music in school. I might even consider to send him to musical school, I`ll keep this option open.
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