A World Without Music

Every once-in-a-while I will be asked, "What is the benefit of music class" or "What is so great about music that my kids have to be involved in it?" After speaking with fellow music majors and educators, I have found that I am not the only one struggling to find answers to these questions; let's face it, it is hard to prove to a set of parents that don't want their kids to be involved in music that it is worth their time to be involved. I could stress the importance of a discipline; the focus on hardwork, practice, and a group of students coming together to achieve a common goal. I could also bring up the fact that students who are involved in the arts have been proven to get better grades; most parents would respond to that. Maybe I would share a personal experience of how music has drastically changed my life by giving me a relationship with God that I never knew existed, not every parent would respond to that. These things would all be great points to bring up, but I think I would go a different direction. I would ask the person to try and imagine a world without music. None. At all. Ever. Not in commercials, on our iPods, in our stereos, in symphony halls, in villages, in ghettos, in rural America; none, at all, ever. The truth is that music, like any other discipline in school, is a part of our lives. It gives us an outlet for imagination, expression, love, dislike, comedy, talent, and the like. Stripping students of these outlets would be utterly irresponsible as an educator, and as an adult. Life without music cannot exist, for we were created that we may glorify our God with all aspects of life.

The Raw Power of a Hymn Tune

This morning, while finishing up some homework, I was listening to Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5. The work begins with a great stack of chords; one note building on top of another, building and building, and then...resolving-almost seamlessly. The 1st movement is also full of what is known as a "Dresden Amen." Made up of a building chord progression and slow moving crescendo, the Dresden Amen captivates listeners and demands their attention. The 2nd and 3rd movements, while short, also have their unique characteristics. However, I forget all about the previous two movements once the theme of the 4th is revealed; "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." The title of the Hymn seems self-explanatory, and growing up I was pretty sure I understood what it meant. My suspicion was turned over once I heard the 4th movement; Mendelssohn's arrangement of the hymn tune. The setting of the tune truly brings it's title to life. I cannot say anything that will express the feelings I experience when listening to this movement; so please, experience it for yourself.

Music Education: My Bookmarked WebSites

I have a number of good Music Education websites bookmarked in MyDelicious. Please have a look at them at http://delicious.com/rossdwit. If anyone has websites they would recommend for Music Education, please let me know.

A Beginning

I'm not quite sure how to start a blog; this is my first time. I suppose I will share the first story about music in my life that I can remember. My father sings in a local men's chorus, they represent a company which helps people with mental disabilities. When I was young, we went all over the place on Sunday nights to listen to my father sing in the chorus. Their sound was good and the director was quite precise, but my attention immediately went to the faces of the men in the choir. It was very easy to see why they were singing; for the people they represent. When I sing in choirs I often think back on that memory and remember who I sing for; the one who gave me the gift, Jesus Christ.