Summary

John C. Davis reflects on the transformative power of music education, recounting personal experiences of how it has positively impacted his life and the lives of his students.

Abstract

John C. Davis, a seasoned music educator since 1985, emphasizes the critical role of music in schools for students' well-being. He shares the profound influence music has had on his students, including a challenging 6th grader who became the top bass clarinet player in Florida, and another who went on to become a White House reporter. Davis also reveals how music served as his own refuge from personal issues, shaping his life and providing a sense of belonging and success. He advocates for music as a core subject, essential to the emotional and foundational development of children, and expresses gratitude to fellow music educators for their world-changing contributions.

Opinions

Music education is essential for the emotional and personal development of students.
Music has the power to transform lives, as evidenced by the author's own experiences and those of his students.
Challenges faced by students, such as behavioral issues, can be positively addressed through music education.
Music should be recognized and funded as a core subject in schools, on par with math and reading.
The impact of music educators is significant and far-reaching, as they enrich the world by nurturing students' musical talents.

Music Educators Change the World

Educating our students about music is critical to their well-being

I cannot let the month of March go by without acknowledging Music in Our Schools Month.

Music in Our Schools Month is the National Association for Music Educators’ annual celebration that takes place in March. It’s an opportunity to remind us of the importance of music in our schools.

I’ve been a music educator since my college clarinet professor Dr. Christy suggested I teach a student from a local high school. I still remember how excited I was for this opportunity. That was back in 1985, and I’ve been teaching ever since.

Passing on the gift of music has been one of the constants in my life since then. I’ve taught in private music studios, in students’ homes, and in school settings.

It is a gift and a privilege to teach music. There is something magical about it. If you are an educator, you know what I mean. It’s hard to put into words. The joy on a student’s face and the feeling of appreciation is something precious.

Allow me to share about how music has influenced the lives of my students, and how it changed mine.

I had a student years ago who started playing bass clarinet in a middle school I was teaching in. This 6th grader was one of the most difficult students I had ever encountered. He always talked during my rehearsals, he was rude to other students, and he always questioned my teaching methods. Yes, this 6th grader was convinced that my methods were wrong and that he knew better. I had to ask him to leave the class many times. It was not pleasant.

One day this student’s parents contacted me because their son wanted to take lessons from me. After thinking about all the difficulties he presented to me in class I wasn’t sure whether to take him on as a student. I did say yes.

The lessons were difficult at first, but over time it became evident to me that he really did want to learn the bass clarinet. And I found out that he was an incredibly intelligent and curious student. This young man ended up taking lessons from me for six more years.

In those six years, he made the middle school honors band, got accepted into a prestigious local arts school, then passed the auditions for the Florida all-state band. In his last year of high school, he became the top chair bass clarinet student in the state of Florida. From getting thrown out of my rehearsals six years earlier to making the top chair in the state was an amazing transformation.

I never gave up on this student. I saw through his behavior issues and realized that he was crying out for help. He never actually told me this, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that music saved him. I have not talked to him in years, but I hear through the grapevine that he is doing well.

I have other amazing stories. A student in my flute section at a middle school has gone on to be a reporter in the White House and is a regular correspondent on a prominent news network. I had another student who become a drum major at a prominent college in Florida, got married, and is now pursuing a doctoral degree.

Music changes people’s lives.

To end my brief words here I need to bring it home a bit. Make it more personal.

My life was completely changed by music.

Music saved me.

When I was younger, I had lots of issues with focus and anger. I didn’t know where to channel it. When my parents had the wisdom to allow me to rent my first saxophone in Mr. Strang’s band at Joseph Hart Elementary School I had no idea what that would do to my life.

Joining band became my solace away from the issues that I had in life. Most of my issues were between my two ears. Music helped to heal these. Music gave me a place to belong. I wasn’t an athlete. I wasn’t a bad student, but I wasn’t fantastic either. Music gave me something to feel successful about. It still does that for me.

I hoped I have conveyed to you the message that music in our schools is critical to the well-being of our students. Whether the band student who plays the trombone in middle school goes on to play in the New York Philharmonic or goes on to be a CEO of a major corporation is irrelevant. Music changes people. It rearranges the emotional landscape of children and provides for them a foundation to build the rest of their lives on.

I’m thoroughly convinced that music is a core subject just like math or reading. Music can never be relegated to being something that can be cut from any school curriculum when it seems convenient to do so.

If you are a music educator, I want to say thank you. I stand proudly with you in the quest to bring this beautiful gift of music to the world. You are changing the world one student at a time. The world is a better place because of your commitment.