u know sometimes i fear that i may be on the wrong path but just don’t know it....
until i see something like this or lizzo’s instagram story on marching bands and start to tear up. 
Then I remember why what my career path is important not only to me, but to the general population as well. I remember what draws me to a field that will generally be viewed by the public as “a hobby” or just “a fun extracurricular activity”.
Music education is so vital in the development of children/ young adults. It teaches discipline, team building skills, and fosters a lifelong sense of community. It’s a universal language. Generally speaking, most people listen to music on a regular basis. Why? The general response ties to an emotional connection to the music. Even with modern pop/rap music, we see a sense of CONNECTION with the fan bases. These people come together to share their emotional ties to the music. If you ask me, there is NO difference in the community when it comes to band/choir/orchestra concerts and modern music concerts. Every person in attendance is there to share their love and admiration of music and to support the musician(s) as they share their gift with the world.
I have friends that I’ve performed with (both in band and in choir) that I share memories with of shows or pieces or concerts, and the amount of love and genuine enjoyment we share for those moments is so priceless.
That, to me, is so beautiful. THAT is what I want to give to my students: A tremendous bond that is truly unbreakable. Every single person deserves the love and community that music brings.
Yes, music is a time commitment, but if more people understood the love we have for it and why we do it, they would be more apt to accept what we do as more than an “extracurricular” (even though technically speaking, music is NOT an extracurricular, but a core subject per the viewpoint of the U.S. Government). Music is a part of life, and it should be shared with EVERYONE.
