Social and Emotional Development

It is nothing new that music performance participation has shown extra-musical benefits. The social aspect of music performance is not only one of the driving forces that dragged me through my high school years, but it is often the guide for most of the students participating in a high school band program. Especially in cases where the music program organizes after school activities, performances, and social events, students often find that they are constantly among friends. The band community can be very tightly knit.

A 2020 study on the social implications of the effect of band participation on students; social development synthesizes a lot of my feelings on the topic:

"Research on music education has revealed possible benefits to students’ emotional and

social wellbeing... The social interaction a student gains from participating in music groups and/or listening to music has been identified as beneficial for coping, cognitive development, and social development. Participation in music improves students’ probabilities of more consistent school attendance, going on to higher-education, and completing a bachelor’s degree in comparison to students who have not engaged in music participation" (Garner 2020)

It is hard to get students interested in music because it seems to most people that it is impossible to have a career in music unless you are a pop star. A lot of students are directed by their parents or their family's culture towards other activities that are "more useful". I would submit that doing anything and really trying hard to succeed will let the student into a rewarding experience. As an aside, a career in music can look very different depending on the career choice. I have said in the past that the hardest way to make a living in the music business is to be a musician. There are a great amount of industry jobs that can earn a strong income.

Garner, A. (2020) Lee University School of Music. High School Band and Social-Emotional Health: What Students are Saying. file:///media/fuse/drivefs-84402434c89965ec1848cd81935ea92e/root/HighSchoolBandandSocial-EmotionalHealth-WhatStudentsareSaying9.25.2020.pdf