Article by Student Voice Intern Keely Olfert, Grade 12 student at Luseland District School published as part of Saskatchewan Education Week with the 2024 theme “Learning is a Journey.”

If there’s one thing I’ve always recognized, it’s that music has been a huge part of my life. Growing up, I was surrounded by it. My mother recorded an album in Nashville before coming back home to settle down and have me and my brother, and music has always been woven into the fabric of my family. Whether it’s holiday singalongs, impromptu jam sessions with my cousins, or the playlists that fuel my everyday life, music feels like a second language in our house.

I’ve always loved music, but to be honest, I didn’t think much about it as part of my education until recently. In elementary school, I only had a few music classes here and there. Then last year, something amazing happened. Our school handed out surveys asking what new classes students wanted to see offered. Of course, I checked off “music” immediately, and apparently, I wasn’t the only one.

Fast-forward to this year, and my small school of about 200 students now has a giant music class for grades 10 to 12. It’s been eye-opening to see how many of my classmates share the same passion for music, even though we all come from different backgrounds. For some, music is about performance and creativity. For others, it’s about finding a way to unwind or express themselves. No matter the reason, it’s clear: music matters to us.

The Setbacks of Bringing Music to Every School

Sadly, not every school is able to offer a music program. Before the survey at my school, I didn’t realize just how many people loved and connected with music. It’s easy to assume that music is just “something nice to have,” but the truth is, a lot of students have a deep passion for it. Sometimes, schools don’t understand this passion until they actively ask students for their input.

Even when the interest is there, there are still big challenges. Running a music program requires resources like instruments, sheet music, sound systems, and sometimes even a dedicated classroom. It also requires a teacher who not only knows music but can inspire students and help them grow. For small schools or districts with limited budgets, it can feel impossible to make a program work.

Knowing that, I feel so fortunate that my school now offers music. It’s a reminder that, when given the chance, students will embrace music with open arms. It’s not just a class, it’s an experience that changes how we see ourselves and each other.

Music Connects Us

Music is more than entertainment. It’s a cultural string that ties people together, both globally and right here at home. Around Christmas, for example, we all hear the same familiar songs, whether it’s Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree or Silent Night. Those songs bring people together without us even realizing it. Across the world, millions of people reconnect with memories, loved ones, and shared traditions through those timeless tracks.

But music’s power isn’t just seasonal, it’s deeply personal too. One of my favorite memories happened in the truck with my dad. We were driving down one of those endless Saskatchewan roads, me singing along to my music while he drummed on the steering wheel. My dad doesn’t necessarily love music the way the rest of my family does, but he always goes along with it.

That day, I queued up The Chain by Fleetwood Mac. As soon as the first notes hit, my dad practically shouted, “Oh my goodness!” I was so startled I yelled, “What?!” back at him. He explained how that song had taken him back to a time when he and his best friend (who has since passed away) used to listen to it while they rodeo-hopped together. For those few minutes, it felt like my dad wasn’t just sitting in the truck with me, but also with his friend, reliving those old memories. It was incredible to witness how music could bridge generations and bring people closer.

Music Belongs in Schools

This connection, this ability for music to heal, to inspire, to unite is why I believe it’s so important to have music in schools. Music isn’t just fun (though it totally is!); it’s powerful. Elton John said it best:

“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.”

Science backs this up too; according to the National Library of Medicine, music has been shown to improve mental health for people with disorders. It can even enhance physical health by boosting heart rates, improving motor skills, stimulating the brain, and strengthening the immune system. Imagine what it could do for students like us who are dealing with stress, anxiety, and the pressures of growing up.

Music is also an outlet for creativity, a way to express yourself when words don’t feel like enough. Whether you’re learning guitar chords, composing lyrics, or just singing along to the radio, it’s about creating something that feels true to you.

Music from the Students’ Perspective

It’s not just me who feels this way; my classmates are just as passionate about the importance of music in schools. One of my classmates, Tristan Frenette, summed it up perfectly:

“I think our music class is important because it gives the students a way to express themselves and each other through a medium we encounter day-to-day. I particularly like the music class as it teaches the fundamentals and basics for a medium I have a high interest in. It also brings music into a social context - as it is a class - which showcases how other people both interpret and approach music and performance, and opens up new opportunities by learning off of each other.”

Let’s Keep the Music Playing

Looking around my music class, I see how much this opportunity has meant to my peers and I. Music brings out talents and passions that might not otherwise have a place in a small school like ours. It’s not just about becoming better musicians, it’s about becoming better humans.

So let’s make sure music stays in schools, not just here in Saskatchewan but everywhere; because whether it’s the Christmas classics, a Fleetwood Mac song in a truck, or a jam session in a classroom, music has the power to connect us, heal us, and remind us that we’re never alone.

Let’s keep the music playing.

References:

• Fleetwood Mac. “The Chain - 2004 Remaster.” Spotify, Spotify, 4 Feb. 1977, open.spotify.com/track/5e9TFTbltYBg2xThimr0rU. 
• Rebecchini, Lavinia. “Music, Mental Health, and Immunity.” Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 21 Oct. 2021, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8566759/#:~:text=Studies%20on%20patients%20diagnosed%20with,stimulation%2C%20and%20immune%20system%20enhancement. 
• RnMTeam. “Inspirational Quotes on Music by Famous Musicians.” RadioandMusic, RandMbiz, 2 May 2016, www.radioandmusic.com/entertainment/photos/music/160502-inspirational-quotes-music-famous-musicians.