Happy #MusicInOurSchoolsMonth! This month, to uplift the theme of “United Through Music,” we’re highlighting some of our partners at our School Program sites who help make the music and magic happen.
Justin Wrzesinski, or Mr. W. as he’s known to his students, has spent fifteen years since college as a teacher specializing in elementary music education, including the past fourteen years at John C. Coonley Elementary School. The school is in its second year of partnership with Uniting Voices. We sat down with Mr. W. to learn about the potential of music education to change the world and why this year’s theme resonates with him.
Uniting Voices Chicago: What do you enjoy about working with Uniting Voices?
Justin Wrzesinski: I enjoy collaborating on performances with our band concerts. I enjoy watching the students develop a love and a joy for singing outside of my music class. We have our activities and curriculum during the day, but to see them pursue that further with the diverse repertoire of song that Uniting Voices brings to the table.
UVC: What do you appreciate about music education?
JW: I love my job. I appreciate that music education gives students a chance to learn and apply the language of music - because music is really a language that you learn - and you can apply that in different learning environments. I love how hands-on music is. It engages all different styles of learners. There’s a lot of movement, there’s a lot of listening, there’s a lot of visual aspects. It really engages the body, heart, and mind, and the whole child. It activates them.
UVC: This year, Music in Our Schools Month is themed "United Through Music." How do you believe that music and music education can bring young people together?
JW: Because it is a language, and a universal language that can cross cultural and language barriers, when people learn, or sing a song, they’re speaking one language together. When you add the different elements of music, like rhythm and tempo for example, suddenly you have a whole group of people with one goal. When you have a community of people with one common goal, to play and experience a song, it really brings a sense of unity to them. In my experience, I’ve had students come back from high school and play with our current students, and it’s this moment of people who would never have met coming together through music.
UVC: How do you feel your job makes a difference in the world?
JW: My job makes a difference by creating opportunities for students to find joy in music. It’s something I pride myself on, bringing the joy of music to the community, so when students find something they love to do, they can pursue that for the rest of their lives. So what I hope I’m doing is bringing joy to many children each year I teach. I think the world needs joy right now. And I think as children grow older, they can lose that exploratory joy and the wonder of being a kid, and I think music can keep you in touch with that. I hope to give students the opportunity to find that joy in music, and continue it into adulthood, and bring that joy to others around the world.
UVC: Is there anything else you’d like to share on the theme “United Through Music?”
JW: Music is such a powerful tool and vehicle. I want people to know the far-reaching impact of music in any community or group of students or individuals. It’s not just a performance, it’s not just a class. It affects your brain, your emotional state of thinking, your life and how you react in the world. I hope people understand that in this month that music is so strong. We need music in our schools because it helps you grow into a global citizen.
