The Importance of Music Education -- Grace

So I found out something interesting a few months ago...my mom told me she wants me to go to college.

And I'm thinking, "WHAT THE HECK AM I SUPPOSED TO STUDY THERE?!?!??!  IT'S FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  And stress was added when she told me that I COULD BE GRADUATING THIS SPRING.  Or next spring.  At the latest, the spring after that.

So...yeah, that was kinda scary.  But anyways, I was thinking about what I want to study.  I prayed and prayed and prayed....and then for good measure, I prayed some more.  But God doesn't change.

GUYS.  He wants me to go into music education.

Okay, so aside from me freaking out about what a terrible pianist I am and how I need to be practicing RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF WRITING THIS BLOG POST, I'm going to stress the importance of music education in our schooling systems.

10.  If you're a music teacher....
I know, I know.  Not everyone can be a music teacher.  But in the rare and amazing case you ARE a music teacher, and you do end up teaching your children about music, do you know how much money you can save your family?!  Lessons generally cost anywhere from twenty to sixty dollars a session.  If you have one lesson a week, that's $1,040 dollars a year.  Most people, if they're extremely dedicated (like some people I know), might take lessons for, say, fifteen years.  That's a grand total of $15,600 going into music education in a family...for one child and one instrument.

9. It makes you think.
Loud, soft, hard, gentle?

8. It creates feeling.
Yesterday a friend and I were talking.  She said that Sunday, when she played for a service, she played the hymn, "What Wondrous Love Is This."  She said she was reading the words, and she actually started crying.  I know that showed through her playing. 

7. You learn new languages.
Every musician learns the language of their instrument(s).  Every musician learns a bit of Italian too.  Maestoso, dolce, forte, piano, adagio, allegretto. I've also learned some German through music and I know many learn French as well.

6. It helps you express yourself.
When I am sad, I play sad songs.  When I am happy, I play happy songs that praise God.  Either way, I come out of it feeling a lot better.

5. It helps you connect with people.
I have friendships that started because we both love music.  Heck, my friendship with my piano teacher is based almost solely upon our joint love of music and, as she would say, "Yummy chords"!

4. It helps children with difficulties.
It has been proven that music definitely aids children with autism.  I have seen this myself with friends that I have. 

3. It helps create humor.
What band, choir, or music geek doesn't love a good music pun?

2. It speaks to your soul.
Music speaks to me in a way nothing else can.  It cheers me up, helps me grow, and, most importantly, brings me as close as I have ever been to God.  When I feel His Spirit, it is almost, almost always when there is music.  I have felt and heard the angels sing when singing with my choir.

1. You can share it.
Music was never meant to be stifled.  In music, you can grow, experiment, learn, create, and thrive.
And then you can share it with others around you.  And that gift is priceless.