Band Should be a Required Course by Karen

Band Should be a Required Course by Karen - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my life, I’ve always been a sucker for old and outdated entities; I guess one could say that I’m a bit of an “old soul”. More so, I’ve always felt a deep connection to music from the past, and band gives me a way to express that timeless love through instruments and shared tradition. With the scarce number of participants at my school, I felt it necessary to help preserve the art. It was the best decision I never knew I needed, and I think that band should be a required course for students in the U.S. Band improves the lives of students by enforcing life skills, extending social boundaries, and producing emotionally positive brain activity. 
Students in band are often seen as intelligent by their peers,–and yes research does show that learning music strengthens memory–but there are many life skills acquired through practicing music that showcase intelligence via maturity. For example, when the conductor spends an entire class period rehearsing the same part of a song, it can seem quite redundant. Yet, the exhausted air pipes of high school students prove to be skillfully patient and persistent with a common goal in mind. Another example would be when the band has very complex rhythms and different times of playing while trying to watch the conductor and count in their head. It is necessary for the students to listen to each other and the life skill of multitasking simply becomes second nature. All in all, the life skills obtained by being a part of band would improve the lives of students by enhancing their maturity rate, and naturally extend into building new friendships and stepping beyond social boundaries.
Band extends social boundaries for the students and allows them to comfortably adjust to settings with peers that have different backgrounds. For example, in my particular school, the students in each grade rarely share classes with students of another grade. However, band is a class for grades from freshmen to seniors. Having a cross-grade environment encourages older students to mentor younger ones and helps younger members feel more included and increases their social circle. Another example would be when the band travels to marching competitions and concert music festivals to perform; half of the time consists of waiting and talking. Conversing with other schools from the district is a great way to expand social boundaries. Overall, the growth of social boundaries within band students creates a welcoming high school experience and is a contributing factor that relieves stress to produce an emotionally positive outcome. 
Participating in band stimulates emotionally positive brain activity by promoting feelings of joy, connection, and stress relief through music. For instance, when the conductor gives out different pieces of music, there are some pieces that the student develops a bond to. The connection promotes a happy and content feeling of familiarity for the student. Another example would be the simple fact of knowing one’s own part and playing the music as if it is a reflex, because half of the time it is. Just playing one’s instrument that he or she has been playing for years is a good practice for stress relief and calms the mind. Overall, band produces emotionally positive brain activity through the sense of belonging and familiarity between the music and the student.
Band should be a required class in U.S. high schools because it offers more than just musical instruction— it provides essential tools for lifelong success. By participating in band, students develop crucial life skills such as discipline, time management, and responsibility that carry over into academics and future careers. Band also extends social boundaries by encouraging collaboration, teamwork, and friendships across grade levels and social groups, creating a more inclusive school environment. Additionally, playing music stimulates emotionally positive brain activity, helping students manage stress and boost their overall mental well-being. With benefits reaching far beyond the classroom, band should not just be an elective– it’s an experience that every high school student deserves.