More Than a Song: Why Music in School Matters for Your Child’s Growth
- Jessica Paige Glenn
- Mar 25
- 4 min read
Some of the most important moments in a child’s education don’t happen during a test.
They happen when a student finds their voice.
At St. Victor School, music in school creates those moments every day—helping students build confidence, express themselves, and feel connected to something bigger than themselves.
Each March, schools across the country celebrate Music in Our Schools Month, and it gives us a special opportunity to share what our students experience all year long.
More Than a Month: Music as Part of Everyday Learning
At St. Victor School, music in school is part of how students grow and that starts with weekly lessons.
In music class, students build foundational skills as they:
Learn rhythm, melody, and music theory
Explore instruments and movement
Experience music from different cultures and traditions
It’s structured, intentional, and designed to help every child feel successful regardless if they’ve had prior exposure to music or not.
For students who want to go further, opportunities like Charger Chorale offer a deeper level of engagement. As an elective, Charger Chorale is a more advanced opportunity for students to develop their vocal skills, take on new challenges, and experience what it means to perform as part of a group working toward a shared goal.
Students in Chorale:
Rehearse regularly and refine their performance skills
Learn how to blend their voices and support one another
Build confidence performing in front of live audiences
And those performances go beyond campus. Charger Chorale students have had the opportunity to perform at San Jose Sharks and Golden State Warriors games—real stages, real audiences, and moments they don’t forget.
Alongside this, our ukulele program gives students a hands-on way to make music, reinforcing rhythm, coordination, and independence as they learn to play.
Together, these experiences create a clear pathway: Every student is introduced to music → students build confidence and skills → students who are interested go deeper through performance opportunities.
It’s not about selecting a few students.
It’s about giving every child the chance to discover what they’re capable of and then supporting them as they grow.
Celebrating Music in Our Schools Month at St. Victor
This month gave us one of those moments that reminds you what school is really about.
When our guest African drummers visited campus, students didn’t just watch—they participated. They listened, moved, and connected.
One of the drummers shared something simple but powerful:“Your heartbeat is a drum.”
You could see it click.
Suddenly, music wasn’t something “out there.”It was something already inside them.
Later, during a school-wide assembly led by Leslie Legacion Campos, the entire school community came together by playing games, singing, and laughing.
And in the middle of all that joy was a reminder our students will carry with them:
Music brings people together. Not just for a performance, but for belonging.
The Moment a Child Finds Their Confidence
There’s a moment that happens in music class. It’s can be quiet and easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. And sometimes, it's so palpable, it takes your breath away.
A student who was hesitant… sings a little louder.
A child who wasn’t sure… strums the right chord.
A group that started unsure… finishes together.
And something shifts.
Through experiences in both music class and performance opportunities like Charger Chorale, students learn that it’s okay to try, to make mistakes, and to try again.
That confidence doesn’t stay in music, they carry their heads a little higher as they walk back to the classroom. Music in school becomes a starting point for courage, and research supports this.
Studies from the National Association for Music Education and the National Institutes of Health show that music education supports:
Stronger memory and recall, as rhythm and repetition help reinforce learning
Language development, particularly in younger students
Focus and attention, especially during sustained tasks
Confidence and self-expression, which are critical for participation in class
In other words, music in school helps build the habits and skills that students carry into every subject.
At St. Victor, we see this connection every day:
A student who gains confidence in music is more willing to speak up in class.
A student who learns to listen and collaborate in a group carries that into projects and discussions.
A student who practices consistently begins to understand what growth really looks like.
Music complements academic learning by strengthening the way students engage with school.
More Than Music: A Way to Express What Words Can’t
Not every child finds their voice the same way, and that’s exactly why music matters.
For some students, music becomes:
A way to express emotions they don’t yet have words for
A creative outlet in the middle of a structured day
A place where they feel seen and valued
In Charger Chorale, students don’t just sing—they listen, adjust, and support one another.
They learn that their voice matters… and so does everyone else’s.
Learning Through Culture and Connection
Music also opens doors.
Under the guidance of Leslie Legacion Campos, students explore music from different cultures and traditions—not just hearing it, but experiencing it.
Moments like the African drumming workshop do more than teach rhythm. They build:
Curiosity
Respect
A deeper understanding of the world beyond themselves
Because when students experience different cultures through music, they don’t just learn about diversity, they feel connected to it.
What It Means to Be a Charger
Music reflects what it truly means to be a Charger.
A Child of Faith, sharing joy and gifts with others
A Lifelong Learner, trying something new with courage
A Caring and Responsible Citizen, working in harmony with a community
When students find their voice, they become more confident, connected, and compassionate people. At St. Victor School, that ultimately is our goal.
Discover the Difference
If you’re looking for a school where your child will be known, encouraged, and inspired as a whole person.
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