Should Music be a Required Class in High School?

Music class is an elective in the AISG high school, with the choices of band, strings, choir, and music technology. Whether or not music class should be required has always been a valid argument. I will attempt to show you both sides of the argument, and you can decide for yourself.

First, people who support this idea think that music calms the mind down and lowers stress levels. Scientific research has also proven that music helps student sleep more. Now students don’t tend to sleep enough, so this is essential. Dr. Pihowich, the director of the music department suggests that music develops multiple areas of the brain, and benefits the young students. Louie Avelar, a 9th-grade trumpet player, enjoys playing music because it boosts his mood and he has fun. Playing in a band or collaborating in composing can also train the skills of teamwork.

On the contrary, people claim that music is not a required class because they are not talented in music and their career will not be related to music, therefore they need another choice that is more relatable to their career. Relatively new students often quit music class because they feel like they have a disadvantage compared to the experienced musicians, and he feels like he has more fun in other electives. One such example of this is freshman Robbie He.

In conclusion, one side thinks that music should become a required class because it benefits the brain and trains students, and the other side thinks that music is not everybody’s interest, so it shouldn’t be required. But as for now, music still remains an elective in AISG.