The Role of Instrumental Music In Schools

A Brief Rationale for Music Education

• Music has always played a major role in society. It exalts the human spirit and enhances the quality of life.
• One fundamental purpose of education is to transmit our cultural heritage, and music is a powerful means for communicating that message.
• Music helps students to develop and mature. Music potential is one of the basic abilities that exists in every human being.
• Music in education provides both motivation and an opportunity for success for at-risk students. Because it is essential that every student succeed at school, music should be used as a means for enhancing self-esteem, respect for others, and good citizenship.
• Music study can help students understand the nature of humankind. It provides a readily accessible avenue to the study of other cultures.
• Music uses one of the most powerful and complex symbol systems in existence, which can be used for the development of critical thinking skills in all students.
• Music helps students with the aspects of life that cannot be quantified. Since much in education emphasises true/false tests and other 'objective' measures, students need experiences in which there are opportunities for several acceptable interpretations of any given problem.
• By providing exercises in creative problem-solving through composition, performance, and listening, music brings a proper balance to the curriculum.

Adapted from: 'Building Support for School Music: A Practical Guide (1991)', Music Educators National Conference, USA.

Music in the Curriculum

Music is one of the five art forms within the Arts learning area. The study of music contributes to both the overarching outcomes and the four arts-specific outcomes of the Curriculum Framework.

Relationship of Instrumental and Classroom Music

Playing instruments is an integral part of a balanced music program. The specialised study of instrumental music further enhances student learning in music.

• an enrichment of the normal classroom music program in primary schools;
• an integral part of the program for most music students in secondary schools.

Not all students are prepared or able to commit themselves to the specialised study of instrumental music. The program offered through the School of Instrumental Music is aimed at those students who show keen interest and aptitude in music, and who are prepared to make an ongoing commitment to musical activity.

Instrumental music tuition relies on the general development fostered in the classroom music program. A healthy core program of classroom music is an essential pre-requisite. Experience has shown that without a vigorous classroom music program, the success rate in instrumental music is severely reduced.