The Power of Music

(Asked by my film’s publicist to write an Op Ed for possible publication in a major newspaper, I dug up an earlier piece I remember liking. He suggested (politely) that it wouldn’t work so well for the op ed format. So I wrote another one today. Here’s the one I won’t use.)

 

In his victory speech back in December of 2022, Raphael Warnock gave a compelling summary of what constitutes good leadership. 

 

• You can’t lead the people if you don’t love the people.

 

• You can’t love the people if you don’t know the people.

 

• You can’t know the people unless you walk amongst them. 

 

Powerful words carrying needed truths. With a few adjustments, the above speaks to good teaching as well:  

 

• You can’t teach the children if you don’t love the children.

 

• You can’t love the children if you don’t know the children.

 

• You can’t know the children unless you walk— and play and sing and dance— amongst them. And make art and play games and share stories together and work side-by-side with them. 

 

Speaking from 50 years of teaching music and dance to children of all ages, I can testify that all of the above is possible through the artful teaching of music. No other subject connects us more quickly and profoundly. When we join through the harmonious vibrations of shared melody and rhythm, move together in measured steps, blend opposing beats and notes together so a third, yet more beautiful sound emerges, we become people actively fulfilling the promise of belonging, of connecting in precisely the ways we all deserve. When invited to improvise and compose, we are seen, valued and known yet deeper. Who wouldn’t want that for their children? For themselves?

 

And yet. Music programs in schools continue to come and go according to the whims of budget, as if this was all an unnecessary frill entirely disposable. Let us consider what we’re giving up when we too casually make those decisions, what we are gaining when we have the good sense to both make children happy qnd re-ignite our vow as teachers. Music can breathe life into Senator Warnock’s words in multiple ways:

 

• Making music together is building relationship. Teacher to student, student to student, student to the material, student’s small self to student’s larger self. And yet more! Student to the musicians of the past whose shoulders they stand on and equally to the students of the future as they add their own voices to panoply of creation. 

 

• Making music together is walking—and dancing!— among the people. “How do you like the new chief?” someone in a Ghanaian village was asked. “I don’t know— I haven’t seen him dance yet.” was the wise reply. 

 

• Making music together is getting to know the people you're playing with, not by finding out their favorite pizza, but by feeling the pressure and warmth of their hand while dancing in a circle, the resonance of their voice as they sing, the delight when they play music in the groove, the excitement as they venture into the unknown waters of an improvised solo. 

 

The teacher is the leader serving the deep needs (not the superficial wants) of the students with the knowledge of what's needed to master the music and dance. Not to simply prepare for a show, but to refresh the spirit, open the heart, challenge the mind, awaken the body of each and every student. To bring them into worlds previously unknown, but forever comforting and energizing.  The teacher teaches from the core of inner authority while still humbly considering what new insights and perspectives the children offer. 

 

The students also have a vital role to play. They are the actively engaged citizens doing the work to merit the promise of given freedoms. Their job is be serious and have fun, to work hard and play joyfully, to respect the teacher while intelligently questioning the teacher when needed. While growing their own sense of inner authority and confidence, they recognize that the life experience of the teacher is of great value and humbly, but not naively, begin from trust in the teacher’s guidance. 

 

These are the qualities that make good teachers and good students. As Horace Mann once famously said, “What do you need for great education? A good teacher on one end of a log and a good student on the other." 

 

Love is the log.