PHILOSOPHY
Taken from the Curriculum Guidelines of the Archdiocese of Denver, 2015:
"Music is pervasive in the world. It is a universal means of individual expression that transcends language. It is a part of every culture and of all creation. Music is a means of individual expression, of communal sharing, and of worship. It is a means of transmitting culture and knowledge across the vast spectrum of human history. It is especially important in the history of the Catholic Church. “The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1156). Schools that value the education of the total person cannot neglect education in the area of music. Music education is an investment in the well-being of children. It empowers them to express what cannot be put into words alone. The curriculum addresses the fundamental music process in which humans engage; performing, creating and responding to music. Education allows students to express themselves in music, to enjoy music created by others, to be more discriminating consumers of commercially produced music, and to value a variety of musical expression. The richness of music from world cultures, from historical times, and as an expression of social movements and ideologies informs studies in history, literature, economics and language. The study of music is integral to a well-rounded education. Music is not an “extra” subject that can be dropped because of economic difficulties or limited time availability. Music is not just a background for other subjects in a school day; it is important in its own right. Because of the value that it has in educating the whole child and because of the power that it has to bring people to God, music education is integral to the school program in the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic Schools."
http://archden.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Music-2015-Objective-by-Strand.pdf