Music: Enrich the Soul

Music in education is sadly disappearing.  Children will no longer be exposed to great music literature due to lack of funds.  Art is also fading in our children’s education.  My question is, who will be the audiences for the symphonies, operas and art museums in 20 years?  Will event centers where pop artists perform take the place of the classics?

As a grade school general music teacher of many years, I thrill to hear from past students when they tell me how much they loved the “Halloween” music that I introduced them to in the classroom.  Music such as “Danse Macabre” by Saint-Saens, Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain,”  “Funeral March of the Marionette” by Gounod and the lively “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Grieg.  They still listen to this music today because they heard it in grade school and heard the stories that go along with them and learned about the composers.

Music enriches people’s lives.  It makes you happy, soothes aching hearts, creates excitement and thrills the soul.  Pick up a recording or download a piece of music and listen to it – not just background music but really listen.  Hear the trumpets.  Listen for the xylophone.  Can you hear the gong?  How about the whispering of the violins?  Find the enjoyment of savoring great music.