Why I Teach Music
(anonymous)
I don't teach you music because it's a science.
I don't teach it because it's math.
I don't teach it because it's a foreign language, and
I don't teach it because it's history.
I don't teach you music because it's physical education.
I don't teach it for any of those reasons.
I teach it because it's an art.
Because it allows a human being to take dry and boring things
and create an emotion. That's one thing the computer still can't do- it can't create emotion.
I don't teach you music because I expect you to go out and major in music.
I don't teach it to you because I expect you to play or sing all your life, although I'd like you to.
I don't teach it to you so you can relax and have fun either.
I teach it to you so you'll be human,
And so you'll recognize beauty,
And so you'll be sensitive,
And so you'll be closer to an infinite beyond this world,
And so you'll have something to cling to,
And so you'll have more love, and more compassion, and more gentleness,
And more good, and in short,
so you'll have some more life.
Of what value is it going to be to you to make a prosperous living
unless you've learned how to live?
That's why I'm teaching music.
(anonymous)
I don't teach you music because it's a science.
I don't teach it because it's math.
I don't teach it because it's a foreign language, and
I don't teach it because it's history.
I don't teach you music because it's physical education.
I don't teach it for any of those reasons.
I teach it because it's an art.
Because it allows a human being to take dry and boring things
and create an emotion. That's one thing the computer still can't do- it can't create emotion.
I don't teach you music because I expect you to go out and major in music.
I don't teach it to you because I expect you to play or sing all your life, although I'd like you to.
I don't teach it to you so you can relax and have fun either.
I teach it to you so you'll be human,
And so you'll recognize beauty,
And so you'll be sensitive,
And so you'll be closer to an infinite beyond this world,
And so you'll have something to cling to,
And so you'll have more love, and more compassion, and more gentleness,
And more good, and in short,
so you'll have some more life.
Of what value is it going to be to you to make a prosperous living
unless you've learned how to live?
That's why I'm teaching music.