Personal Statement

Plato once stated, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” The art of music has greatly impacted my mind, imagination, and life, and I am certain it has positively affected others (Brown). In recent years, government cuts to education have led to numerous schools reducing or removing their music education programs. This difficult decision schools are required to make is negatively affecting their student population (Catterall), and the government needs to re-think their funding decreases on music courses. As an elementary school student, music was not my forte. I was never excited to sing in my general music class, and I was

Music education has truly expanded my mind and allowed me to reach my full academic potential. Following my discovery in my passion for music, my test scores and overall grades increased. In middle school, I maintained an average in the low 90s, but my current average is around a 98%. Aside from my intelligence, music has aided in my mental health. Singing and playing the euphonium and piano have eased my stressful life situations and improved my mood. I am incredibly thankful for the impact music education has had on my

Investment in quality music education programs will inevitably increase a school’s test scores, and Christopher Johnson, a professor of music education and music therapy, “found jumps of 22 percent in English test scores and 20 percent in math scores at elementary schools with superior music education. Results were similar in middle schools. One theory holds that higher scores result because music helps to develop attentiveness.” It is well known how higher test scores lead to increased government funding. Therefore, in a nutshell, music education pays for