Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • April 2013
9
Music Learning: It Lasts a Lifetime
(
…supported by the thoughts of
Albert Einstein
)
Being an avid fan of quotes, it
is always special to run onto some
wisdomthat challenges themind and
forces one to push to the next level
of understanding. This particular bit
of insight comes from arguably one
of the greatest intellectuals in the
history of mankind, Albert Einstein.
Well known as a scholar, Einstein
was probably more recognized for
his ability to translate information
into pragmatic application. In other
words, he brought REAL VALUE
to the data at hand. From his
perspective:
“Education is what remains after
one has forgotten everything one
learned in school.”
- Albert Einstein, 1879-1955
We continue to deceive ourselves
by thinking stand-alone information
is valuable. Information is only
potential value; we have to “take
action” on the information and to
this end, we have to be realistic
about what we deliver to our
students via our teaching agenda.
Does it REALLY have pragmatic
value and can (and will) they make
it applicable to their life habits?
Every master teacher goes through
this ongoing introspective inquiry,
“Does the lesson-plan of the day
have merit in relationship to the
positive growth and development
of my students? Will they use it?
Is it applicable? Will they integrate
it in a way that brings value to
their lives?” This is clearly a very
difficult litmus test for any teacher to
embrace. However, it is also where
we discover and identify the source
of true learning—learning that lasts,
learning that stands-the-test-of-time,
learning that makes a difference.
What does all this mean to those
of us who are music educators? It has
a direct relationship to what we offer
the entire educational curriculum.
The brain research continues to
spotlight the importance of music-
learning as it relates to the overall
competency of the child in every
academic area. For years we have
said, “All the smart students are
in music.” Now (because of the
technological ability to measure
and identify how the mind maps
itself), the process of learning music
appears to
embellish
all aspects of
the student’s achievement. Clearly it
is a quantum leap in thinking to even
suggest that music makes people
smarter; however, the statistical
research points in that direction and
it is certainly in our favor. Are we
bringing this good news to parents,
administrators, community leaders,
other teachers in our schools? Do
our students understand their
musical study is benefiting their lives
far beyond the preparation of the
upcoming concert?
Music does make the difference.
The learning that takes place in
your classroom has lasting power.
It is “what remains after one has
forgotten everything one learned
in school.”
It is no accident we can remem-
ber the lyrics to songswewere taught
many years ago, but we cannot
recall the information learned in
our algebra class, or the various state
capitals, or even those intensely
memorized birth/death dates of all
the great composers we learned
about in our music history classes.
We can easily sing all of our favorite
melodies even though many
decades have transpired since we
last visited these “special friends.”
THOSE MEMORIES REMAIN!
Each day when you see your
students enter, you can rest assured
you are going to bring something
to their lives that will have a lasting
impact. You are one of those magical
teachers they will remember forever
because you avail them to a language
they will keep with them for the rest
of their lives.
…Let the music begin…
Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser
Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser is a well-known
name in the music education world. His
career involves ten years of successful college
band directing, three years in the music
industry, and his organization Attitude
Concepts for Today. Tim presently holds the
Earl Dunn Distinguished Lecturer position at
Ball State University, serves as the Executive
Director of Education for Conn-Selmer, Inc.,
and is the national spokesperson for MENC’s
“Make a Difference with Music” program.
Dr. Tim is a TBA Life Member.