FAME
(Future Alabama Music Educators) Scholarship Essay by Jackson Tucker
Editor’s Note: AMEA recently awarded the FAME scholarship to Jackson Tucker, a 2019 graduate of Benjamin Russell High School. Scholarship recipients must have attended the FAME program and plan to major in music education at an Alabama university. Jackson plans to major in music education at Auburn University beginning this fall.
Why I Want to be a Music Teacher
Over the course of my eighteen years of living, one concept that remains constant is my love and passion for music education. Music has played such an important role in my life and I could not have become the musician that I am today without the help and guidance of all of the great music educators that have taught me. Being involved in a music education program has provided me with experiences and wisdom that I will use for the rest of my life. Music has always been my refuge and strength when I have faced hardships. Being able to express myself through music has shown me that my passion is educating others on the power and expression that can be achieved through the creation of music.
Being involved in the band program at my high school over the last several years has shown me that my passion in life is music education. Music has saved me during the hardest times of my life, helping me to express my feelings in a healthy way. Within this past year of my life, I have had to mourn the loss of my dear Aunt Elisa. We had been very close my entire life and bonded over singing and playing Christian music together. When she passed away very suddenly, I felt especially confused and heartbroken. A very special person in my life was suddenly gone and I felt so disconnected from reality. In the aftermath of her untimely death, I struggled to express my feelings, and I did not know how to verbalize what I was feeling and thinking. Then, I turned to music to express myself. Listening to, playing, and singing her favorite songs was what inspired me to feel once again connected to my family, my aunt, and myself. I led everyone in singing one of her favorite hymns at her funeral and this, to me, felt as though I had finally gotten to say goodbye to her.
Also, as it relates to my personal experiences, I would like to touch on the lasting friendships I have made by being a part of a wonderful program. Beginning in the ninth grade, I had only a handful of people I could actually call my “friends.” These several individuals were also involved in the band program and are still some of my trusted and valued friends today. The high school experience itself is daunting, but going at it alone is even more challenging. I knew this fact and began to confide in different people and started to build new friendships. As the years went on, I became more and more comfortable with change and began to increase my social boundaries. During my junior year, things started to change drastically, as I now bad the leadership role of Woodwind Captain. This position all.o wed me to expand once again and diversified my friend group, including people I never thought I would be friends with. And this past year, I was selected as a Drum Major for the marching band, placing me in charge of 150+ people, some that I have never even met before. The point I am trying to make here is that being involved in a music program, or any team-based activity, can be very beneficial to the social development of teens and adolescents. The camaraderie associated
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with band is key to having a successful program and also for the production and successful students, and that is why
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children should have access to music education. Working together is a crucial aspect of the real world and starting in high school will be beneficial in the long run.
Furthermore, I would like to stress the importance of music not only in my experiences but how music is a key factor in the social and emotional development of children and adolescents. According to a study conducted by the University of Southern California’ s Brain and Creativity Institute, individuals who had at least minimal music education at an early age had higher test scores, increased language, and reading capacities, and accelerated cognitive development(Bright Horizons, 2016). Music and the arts are some of the only educational tasks that can be considered “ whole brain” activities. The creative right side of the brain is focused on musical interpretations such as pitch, intonation, and tempo, while the analytical left side is focused onthewritten music and motor skills required tomake asound on theinstrument. Music couples the two sides together, and in doing so, the aforementioned benefits of music education can be seen after this increased brain functionality. During my time as a devout music student, I have seen these results in both my school and myself. My music education experiences have broadened my social skills and have expanded myacademic capabilities, and these are the prime reasons why I want to pursue a career in music education.
However, school board officials across the nation have ignored the statistics behind music studies and are opting to cut funding for arts programs. As a music student, I believe that this is ideal is invalid and plan to fight for the arts, as I have seen the enormous impact the arts can have on individuals and even entire communities. I have personally witnessed the power of music and have seen people shine through their darkest times. I want to take the power of music and spread it to as many people as possible.
In the coming years, I hope to see change in the world regarding music education, and I have chosen this career path to help bring along that change. Asoncestated by Aristotle, “Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear that the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it.” (Politics).. I cannot wait to see our future generations thrive in the years to come and I am so glad that I chose to pursue education, as educators are the molders of our future.
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