Clara sits at her desk deep in thought. She stares at the math problem in front of her desperately trying to remember how to solve it, but as she sits there her long list of homework plays over in her head, and she becomes overwhelmed. She bites her lip thinking and thinking. Then she hears a song on the radio. As she turns up the music, a wave of calm spreads over her body, she closes her eyes and listens to the music. When the song ends Clara’s eyes open and she turns off the radio. She looks again at the troublesome question and sighs, “I remember how to do this now” she says to herself. Then she finishes the problem, but this time calmer than before.
According to NPR news, 45% of teens say they are stressed by school pressures, such as homework and grades. High school, and all of the honors and AP courses, can stress out teens like Clara to the point of exhaustion, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Lots of students can use stress relievers to simmer down during their school day. Music can be one of those reliefs.

When the body is stressed, it releases cortisol, a life sustaining adrenal hormone nicknamed “the stress hormone”. By playing music, students stop the flow of cortisol released from their body, therefore returning to their normal, non-stressed self quicker than someone who didn’t hear or play any music. When returning to this state, teens can think clearer, with their stress gone.

Music does not only calm the stressed mind, it promotes creativity, as well as improving math and reading skills. Playing songs can help students develop the ability to have a vision of what they expect, dedicate themselves to their plan, and follow through to success. A music class can help students who are stressed and give them an hour of relaxation during their day. This can help high schoolers have a clear mind to concentrate on their schoolwork. Adding music to a teen’s day can help them become less stressed and ultimately help them with their academic courses, making a smarter generation.

Now, I know you’re thinking, “What about kids who find playing a musical instrument hard or boring? How would taking a music class help them?” Well, even though playing an instrument doesn’t necessarily helps all teens, it is agreed that there are very few teens who do not listen music. This illustrates that all students, in their own way, like hearing music throughout their day. The music that they listen to calms them and gives them reassurance that they can make it through their schoolwork. That being said, all schools should have a required hour of ‘relaxation’ or ‘de-stress’ time when high schoolers would listen to music, do easy homework, and calm themselves down after their long school day.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, and life to everything.” This famous quote by Plato sums up why music is so important to life. “Music gives a soul to the universe.” It fills everything with a sense of calm and peacefulness. It gives “wings to the mind.” Music lets the imagination run wild. It helps stack your thoughts neatly in your head in order to de-stress you. And it gives a “life to everything.” Music is within our days morning and night. It helps us when we are stressed and when we need to focus. Music is what can help the strained mind, and even the busiest of people, to think clearly.

Music helps kids in their education, providing them with a brighter future and ensuring that they take care of their generation, the generation before them, and the generations to come.