Music Is an Academic

Extracurricular activities are the endeavors that are outside one's regular work, responsibilities, or routines. There is some outside work that is involved in music, but that does not make it an activity. The music program is an academic subject due to the fact that it requires just as much outside class studies as a required school course contains. Through music, a majority of ways to count are practiced, a majority of terms are used daily, after school rehearsals are a requirement to improve, a full school credit is earned each year this class is taken, and it teaches students and adults alike their own successful ways to wisely manage their time.

One piece of music could contain a majority of different techniques for counting. Time signatures cause the performer to pay extremely close attention to the conductor and the music that is played. Most time signatures are counted with the basic 1-2-3-4 in 4/4 time or 1-2-3 in Ð'Ñ* time or 1-2 in 2/4 time, but as one improves, an introduction is made to different counting patterns. Two such examples are 7/8 time, which is counted in 2+2+3 or 3+2+2 and 3/2 time which cuts all of the note's length value in half. One example of this time signature is = (one beat = half a beat). This is an area that requires certain symbols and terms which are necessary for understanding the time signatures and rhythms. They are needed to allow the performer to make the music more desirable for the audience to listen.

Every subject that is studied in school contains a number of terms necessary for any improvement and understanding in that topic. Some examples are theorems in Mathematics, protagonists and antagonists in English, or political maps in History. Music contains a large amount of basic and advanced terms that are constantly used throughout different pieces of music. A few of the basic terms used are staccato which means to "cut off" (Clarke, 89), crescendo which means to increase in loudness (Clarke, 29), and diminuendo which is to decrease in volume or sound (Clarke, 31). Some of the more advanced terms used are the musical alphabet and math symbols. The musical alphabet, from A-G, is a requirement for reading and understanding the music. This includes major, minor, and chromatic scales. Math symbols such as note values, rhythm patterns, time signatures and counting syncopation are used countless times (Eckstine, 1). One cannot improve in any of these skills by only looking at the notes. They must improve by taking a considerable amount time to rehearse and perfect their musicality.

Every student has been tortured in some way with the phrase, "Practice makes perfect." It is difficult to admit, but this phrase is correct. One cannot have a winning football team without a practice schedule they abide by. A National Honor Society member cannot keep their high grade point average without constantly working at their studies. The same situation is true with a musician. One cannot perform a successful audition and be accepted without many hours of personal rehearsal time. A school band cannot perform a beautiful sounding concert if each individual member has not put in the excess effort to perfect his or her music. One's physical skill is enhanced through practice just like studies. Instrumental practice enhances coordination, concentration and memory and also brings about the improvement of eyesight and hearing. (Wilson) This improvement must be made through practice just like studying is needed to pass a class and earn the credit supplied for that course.

When the credit system is observed, one should take notice that the majority of required high school courses give the students one full credit at the time the class is successfully finished.