It is used at various ceremonies all over the world, such as funerals, birthdays and holidays. These are also social gatherings, and many religions and cultures rely heavily on music. In both history and the present, music brings people together. This is especially true regarding age groups. With students, this can promote socialization and positive communication skills by giving them a way to express themselves to their peers when they might otherwise feel shy or embarrassed.
Music is such a broad and diverse category, and requires creativity to create.
In turn, studying music fosters independent thinking. A student that studies music learns to trust their own creativity, and accept other individuals ideas, regardless of how different they are. Even if they do not continue to study music, this individualistic way of thinking and general acceptance of unique ideas is a positive outcome. Education is preparation for the real world, and these skills are necessary to be successful in today's diverse global community. If it is agreed that music education is integral to producing well-rounded students from our academic institutions, the next logical step is deciding what types of music should be taught.