With the new school year starting and I start actively looking for more ukulele students again, it's hard to not stop and ask why. Why is music so important? Surely, subjects like math and science are more “useful” and therefore, more important, right?
My plan was to write a post about all the benefits of learning to play an instrument but, oh my, where does one begin? If simply listening to music is enough to stimulate multiple areas of the brain, actually singing or playing an instrument must light up the brain like a fireworks show. So, where do you start? Do I write about the neurobiology of music education or do I tackle the obvious points like language and motor skills that are developed through learning music? How about social skills and discipline? Higher IQs? Where should I begin?
Obviously, this topic is going to produce several blog posts in the future but for now, I'm going to tell you what keeps me coming back to music despite a number of setbacks.
It occurred to me recently that I've been playing music in one way or another for over 30 years. That's three-quarters of my life! Have I ever wanted to just stop? Of course. A few situations in particular almost broke me. So why am I still playing and wanting to teach music to others?
The things that pulled me away from my music were people-related. It wasn't the music itself but everything that surrounded the making of music. Politics have soured me on a great many of my former hobbies of mine but for me, music generates such an emotional response that I often feel like it can stamp out any external nonsense thrown at me. I can recenter again with a great song and remember what's truly important to me.
Yes, I had to get to adulthood to have my sonarous epiphany of why I gravitate so much to music but it's been a theme throughout my life. Music is here when it feels like the world is going insane and people are turning into monsters. The resonance of a low note going through your instrument into your body or the air coming through your vocal cords as you reach that top note in your song is a balm for the soul that can heal your spirit. (It can also heal your body too but that's a post for another day!)
Teaching music is a job and we all need jobs to survive but because of my strong passion for music itself and the impact it's had on my life, teaching others has become almost a mission. Knowing that there are others, both children and adults, who are having a rough time with things but having little in life to connect to and gound them to emotionally makes me feel like my “job” is incredibly important and I'm proud to be an advocate for music in all its forms.