Music is a universal human phenomenon.
It is one means by which human beings may understand the essence of their culture, and every culture on earth possesses some musical system. Through musical participation, humans are able to make connections with one another in ways which are impossible to achieve by any other means. When students study music, they come to know a dimension of humanness which is otherwise closed to them. In a society which increasingly focuses on passive participation, music study provides students with opportunities for active creative involvement. The student who sings or plays an instrument alone or as part of an ensemble is able to reach a part of himself or herself which cannot be discovered in any other way.