Welcome to the first in my series, Thoughts on music, learning and life. These reflections come from a lifetime of teaching, performing and sharing music with children, adults and communities. Each principle explores the lessons music has taught me about learning, confidence, connection and joy.
“One of the greatest gifts we can give a child isn’t simply the ability to play an instrument. It is discovering something they love enough to keep coming back to”.
When we think about the benefits of music education, it is easy to focus on the things we can measure.
The first notes they play.
The pieces they learn.
The exams they complete.
The performances they give.
And of course, those achievements matter. There is something wonderful about seeing a child work hard, overcome challenges and experience the pride that comes from achieving something they once thought was difficult.
But after many years of teaching music, I have come to believe that the greatest successes are often the ones that cannot be measured so easily.
They are found in the child who walks into a rehearsal room and discovers they belong.
The student who gains confidence because they have achieved something they never thought they could.
Lightbulb moment of understanding and connecting to the music.
The lifelong friendships created through making music together.
A young musician who returns years later and says, “I still play and sing.”
Those moments remind us that music is not just something we learn.
It is something we experience. It is an important part of what makes us human.
Learning music and loving music
Of course, as music teachers, we want our students to become skilled musicians. We want them to develop good technique, understand music and feel proud of their progress. And we work hard to teach and give the skills needed to succeed at each milestone.
But if the only goal is to play the hardest pieces or achieve the highest grades, we risk missing something much more important.
One of the greatest gifts of music is the relationship a we develop with it.
Music can become the thing they turn to when they need comfort and support.
It can be the place where they find friends and belonging.
Music can be the activity that teaches them patience, resilience and perseverance.
And it can give them continued moments of joy throughout their whole lives.
Not every child who learns an instrument will become a professional musician. But every child deserves the opportunity to experience the happiness, confidence and sense of achievement that music can bring.
The moments that stay with us
Hearing from former students always makes my heart happy.
Just recently, I heard from a student I taught in the UK between 2003 and 2008. Leanne sent me a message after hearing Shine by Take That playing on the radio.
She wrote:
“Shine – Take That is playing on the radio. What was created for that song and that show is a core memory for me. And I’m sure for a lot of us that got to experience that. I won’t ever forget that feeling. Thank you for creating core memories for us X.”
At the time, we had created an amazing performing arts show, bringing together musicians, singers and dancers to create something really special. The purpose of the show was simple: to showcase the incredible talents of the students in our program.
Some played instruments. Some sang. Some danced. Some performed ballroom dancing. Every student brought something unique, and together they created something far greater than any one person could have created alone.
For me personally, it was a very special experience because it represented everything I believe music and the arts can provide for young people. It gave students a chance to be seen, to be celebrated and to experience the joy of creating something together.
As teachers, we often don’t realise in the moment which experiences will become important memories for our students.
But years later, when a former student tells you that a performance became a core memory, you realise those moments mattered far beyond the stage.
But what stayed with Leanne was not simply the music.
It was the experience.
It was the people.
It was the memories.
It was the feeling of being part of something bigger than herself.
Years later, she remembered the music room as one of the happiest places in school.
That is the impact I hope music and the arts can have. Not just in the moment, but long after the final note has been played.
My hope is that students don’t only remember the songs they learned.
I hope they remember:
- The friendships they made.
- The confidence they discovered.
- The moments when they surprised themselves.
- The feeling of belonging.
- The joy of creating something together.
Because the greatest gift of music education is not simply teaching someone to play.
It is helping create memories that live on long after the music has stopped.
A lifelong gift
Perhaps the greatest compliment a music teacher can receive is not hearing that a student achieved a certain grade or played a difficult piece.
It is hearing:
“I still love music.”
Because that means the lessons became something more than lessons.
They became a connection.
A memory.
A part of who that person is.
Music is not simply something we teach children to do.
It is something we give them the opportunity to carry with them for life.
Music gives us a way to express what words sometimes cannot. It connects us to ourselves and to each other. And sometimes, the greatest gift we can give someone is not teaching them how to play an instrument, but helping them discover something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Discovering something you love enough to keep coming back to may be the greatest gift music can give us.
Rachel’s Music Principle #1