The power of music

CEBU, Philippines - There's no doubt that of all the art forms so far known to or invented by humankind, music ranks among the most engaging. Whether a person is maker or mere listener, music seizes him momentarily in the process of composing or playing. Music is often a most striking experience for the human person.

Considering the potential power of music in the human experience, it is a wonder why only a few opt to seriously pursue careers in this field. True, the music industry the world over overflows with hopefuls to hit it big. But still the number is insignificant compared to that of the professionals in the other fields of human endeavor.

The real power of music is not economic but emotional and intellectual. One who allows himself to be immersed in the art form would often have profound realizations. A certain melody can change one's view of the world. Creating music would open one to the other possibilities of the human experience.

The website www.gov.ph describes music to be both an aural and a temporal art. "All its elements, when interwoven in the highest artistic order, are likened into - a tapestry moving in time. The global weavings of this tapestry in historical and cultural contexts are diverse, having spurred a continued metamorphosis to include a full range of purposes, functions, and identities, from the utilitarian to aesthetic." But the very nature of music itself does not change.

Like the other arts, music is a creative avenue for man's individual quest for self- expression and fulfillment. In his book "A Structure for Music Education," Ronald Thomas articulates that the nature of music is expressive, ongoing, and creative. Through a language and medium of its own, music conveys ideas and feelings in a way that addresses the human spirit, and has great value in its communicative process. Music, being responsive in interpreting contemporary times, is a continuing art. Aaron Copland describes such characteristic as a continuous state of becoming.

On those basic characteristics are founded the rationale of music study. A keen sensitivity to environmental and musical sounds needs to be developed. Young students must learn to hear, speak, and think in the medium of music. Simultaneously, growth and development in the skills that enable the application of the learner's knowledge should be encouraged, through active involvement in the various musical processes.

The new K-12 school program in the country offers good opportunity in music education for students.  There's the music curriculum that embodies the best practices advocated by the "spiritual, multi-cultural, and integrative" approaches in music education, as well as current philosophical thought about contemporary general education. The curriculum is designed to effectively nurture and refine the learners' artistic expression and cultural literacy, and celebrate his national heritage, while also instilling in the Filipino learner pride in his own cultural identity.

The music curriculum focuses on the learner as both the recipient and instructor of the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for artistic expression and cultural literacy. The curriculum is student-centered, based on spiral progression of processes, concepts and skills and grounded in performance-based learning. Thus, the learner is empowered, through active involvement and participation, to effectively correlate music and art to the development of his own cultural identity and the expansion of his vision of the world.

Especially if the music curriculum is implemented as mainly performance-based, effective learning occurs through active experience, participation, and performance, creative expression, aesthetic valuation, critical response, and interpretation. The skills that are developed include reading/analyzing, listening/observing, performing, like singing, using musical instruments, movement, acting, and playing, using different art materials, techniques and processes, responding, composing, and creating, according to www.gov.ph.

Art has been present since the beginning of civilization as it is an essential means for man to live and communicate with others. It has been used to enhance man's life and surroundings, to express his thoughts, dreams, and spiritual beliefs, and to share his own and his community's aspirations, celebrations, and events. Art records, reflects, and rearranges man's life and existence.

From the art of music, in particular, there's a very practical benefit to gain. It's a very effective therapeutic tool. A person who knows how to whistle a tune has the power to rule over his troubles in life - he will never be crushed by adversity. (FREEMAN)