Readings #1

MUSIC 23241: MUSIC TEACHING AS A PROFESSION

Mr. Marcus L. Neiman, Assistant Professor

Kent State University School of Music

Fall, 2011

CRN:  200910 – Section number: 001 – Class Days: TR 7:45a – 8:35 am - Classroom: SOM E202

Office: Band Office - 330.672.2965 - Telephone: 330.672.2965 (Kent Campus) - E-mail: mneiman@kent.edu

Office Hours: TR 9:00 – 9:55 am (Additional hours available by appointment)

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BlackBoard and Text Readings

Submitted by:  Ryan Critchfield

Submitted for: Mr. Marcus L. Neiman, lecturer

Date: September 11, 2011

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Sanders, Paul D.  (April 2001).  Important influences on the introduction of music education in Ohio.

TRIAD, 58, (5), 28-30.

This article touched upon the role that Ohio schools played in music education. Though it was started in the Boston schools, many Ohio schools implemented similar programs, and really lead the way in showing that music is an important part of a school’s curriculum. With the creation of the Western Literary Institute and College of Professional Teachers, the politics of the education reform were able to accelerate the programs, and were able to help the curriculums grow into what they are today. Stowe’s report was particularly eye opening to the affect that  music can have on students, and went a long way for showing how important music is in the school.

I do think that Stow’s report is accurate, and since that report has come out, more advanced scientific studies have studied the affect of music on academia. In Stowe’s original report, he suggested that music helps students achieve higher in other subject areas, like math and science. Today, we know this to be a fact. The reason for this is that music improves cognitive development by using both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. I have noticed that students who are more involved with music in school perform, on average, better than those that do not.

I agree with Stowe’s report, and because of what we know now, we cannot just strive for strong programs in all schools, we should strive for all students to be involved as well. Music is an art form, and a phenomenon as far as it is concerned with the evolution of a species. As far as we know, humans are the only species that create music for enjoyment. If there are people who do not enjoy some kind of music, it is definitely a very small minority. Whether it is classical, jazz, pop or avant-garde, it is music, and every student can get involved with it, and learn more about it at the school level. This will increase a student’s involvement with their academics, and improve the students environment over all.