In a world where extracurriculars, passions, sports, and academics seem to dictate students’ busy schedules, where does music fit in? As both a
high school junior and a guitarist and vocalist at the Townview Modern Band, I feel there are three reasons why pursuing music as a student in addition to school can be beneficial:
• Music can build dedication and resilience.
• Musicianship strengthens both the left and right brains.
• As a musician, it is easier to apply oneself in other fields.
Becoming a Musician in High School
As someone who has played the guitar for eleven years, I am well aware that learning music is nothing but easy. With over 1,500 possible arpeggios and hundreds of chords, it is almost impossible to succeed on the guitar–or any instrument for that matter–with minimal practice.
As a result, to grow as a musician, it is imperative to stay dedicated to pursuing a given instrument and continue despite facing setbacks such as not being able to accurately play a portion of a song. This idea of resilience and dedication remains constant throughout a musician’s
cross-curricular endeavors, often translating to academics, sports, etc.
Short-Term Benefits of Learning an Instrument
No matter what instrument students choose, they inherently take on the responsibility of learning music, which not only provides students with resilience and determination but also forces them to
push themselves in terms of teamwork and effort. Therefore, the soft ‘skills’ learned through playing any instrument have significant benefits, which are often overlooked.
Furthermore, musicianship is one of the few undertakings that strengthens both the analytical and creative expression of a person. Because reading music involves memorizing notes, understanding time signatures, and comprehending musical notation, being a musician allows students to exercise their analytical left brain.
However, as it is commonly classified, music is an art, meaning that no matter how ‘analytical’ music seems on paper, there is always some level of creative nuance to it. Therefore, music is a rare
outlet of both meticulous and imaginative expression that helps students explore their identity by helping them identify their interests.
As a guitarist, practicing complex songs individually as well as rehearsing for band practices and concerts helped me learn that I liked the theory/notational aspect of music just as much as the actual playing, which alongside
my love for math pushed me to become interested in a more analytical field, such as finance. By identifying my strengths through music, I was able to learn more about myself as a person, discovering paths on which I can traverse in the future.
Long-Term Benefits of Learning an Instrument
While thus far, we have only looked at the short-term benefits of being a
student musician in high school, skills learned as a musician can be applied to almost any field, meaning that there are long-term prospects even for students not pursuing music as a career. For example, practicing the guitar both individually and in a band setting allows me to learn the importance of teamwork and practice to not let my band down.
While this is merely one example, there are hundreds of skills that can be learned in the musical field and applied elsewhere. Whether it be learning communication through coordinating concert pieces or practicing leadership by taking charge of one’s band or orchestra in times of dissonance, there are many ways students can grow both as musicians and as future professionals.
In the long term, students develop various social skills and practical expertise that often take much longer when learned outside of the musical staff. Consequently, they
develop valuable skills that can aid them in their professional careers.
In addition to the acquisition of new skills, being a student musician often serves as a valuable extracurricular that helps students stand out in any application process. Being able to play an instrument, whether that be on a team or individually, can look great on college applications, especially if one grows their talent to represent themselves at competitions and events.
The Power of Music
Every year,
college admissions rise in terms of competition, and having a differentiating activity, such as playing an instrument in a selective band or performing a solo in front of a live large audience, could serve as an excellent supplement to one’s academics.
Most importantly, being a student musician serves as a valuable catharsis for students. On any day, whether I am stressed about an upcoming exam or relaxed, strumming my guitar and singing always seems to bring me into a pleasurable mood.
While there are several reasons to pursue music, the primary motivator for wanting to learn a new skill should be ardor for that skill. When I was young, constantly listening to pop songs motivated me to learn how to compose those songs, and I felt captivated enough to pursue that skill.
Since then,
music has served as a tool to relax, allowing me to distract myself from the general busyness of high school. Therefore, pursuing music as a student may be an excellent choice for some students that propels them to future success!
