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dance, sing, and drum his or her stresses away with the family the common goal of educating
during music learning. The arts also heal emotional the child. For example, as an elementary general
injuries, increase understanding of oneself and music educator, I work with my transitional
others, develop one’s capacity for self-reflection, kindergarten through Grade 5 students for 7
and reduce symptoms of or alter negative behavior consecutive years before handing them off to the
and thinking patterns. Music therapy decreases middle school music teacher. I see students at
anxiety in patients. “The pleasure shared by age four developing a steady beat and watch their
participants in the healing process through a music musical talents flourish as they become selected
therapy program can help to restore emotional to participate in the all-district honor choir at age
balance as well” (Nobel & Stuckey, 2010, p. 254). ten. I enjoy catching up with former students and
Music engagement activities such as singing, families as I attend their middle school and high
drumming, dancing, and listening to music can school performances.
even “calm neural activity in the brain, which Music instruction also offers students a
may lead to reductions in anxiety, and may help collective performance/team experience as they
to restore effective functioning in the immune become attuned to one another’s sounds and
system partly via the actions of the amygdala and develop a rich enjoyment for the subject matter
hypothalamus” (Nobel & Stuckey, 2010, p. 254). and activities. Students appreciate attending music
classes each day or week when they know they are
Music Education and Literacy cared about and respected. For example, my main
Music educators contribute to statewide inspiration in becoming a music educator was my
literacy initiatives by offering students a variety high school choir director, Linda Allen Anderson,
of differentiated literacy opportunities as they who made her students feel excited to come to
sing songs from grade-level music books, white choir and who cared about and built relationships
boards, music videos, document projectors, and with students. She knew the sports, clubs, and
worksheets. Songs help to improve the reading extra-curricular activities in which we were
levels of all children in schools. Singing can help involved and cheered us on through her end-of-day
create phonological awareness whereby children choir “shout-outs.” Ms. Anderson instilled a sense
learn to associate sounds with symbols, thus of community in everyone, and we felt special and
creating links to word recognition and decoding included. As one who had moved often, I did not
skills necessary for reading. Music instruction enjoy school and was unable to form friendships
also strengthens listening and attentional skills, easily due to a disability and language challenges.
helps children to refine auditory discrimination, Over time, I began to enjoy going to school, built
and increases auditory sequencing ability (Parker, friendships, made the honor roll, and gained so
2016). much confidence in myself that I won first place in
a solo singing competition. Ms. Anderson not only
Music Education and Improvement of attended my college performances but also was
Schoolwide Attendance there to watch me direct my professional church

Music educators also help to reduce chronic choir.
absenteeism and improve schoolwide attendance
by establishing positive relationships with students Closing the Achievement Gap
and families. Research has shown that schools that As a music educator, I have helped historically
have music programs have an attendance rate of underserved students—including but not
93.3% compared to 84.9% in schools without such limited to students of color, students who are
programs (Harris, 2006). In my experience, music, socioeconomically disadvantaged, students with
more than other classes, can offer students and disabilities, students experiencing homelessness,
families a team experience in which the educator English learners, and foster youth—in closing the
often works with students year to year and shares achievement gap at all five elementary schools

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