Expanding Knowledge to the Human World: Pro Humanitate Mary Kathryn Cornwell

Music has played an important role in the developement of my esteem and character. When I was in middle school band, I can remember my teacher making our class do breathing exercises, playing tests, and scales over and over in order for us to improve our playing. When I first began to play the flute, I remember being out of breath and dizzy after practicing. Soon, that feeling went away as I began to become more comfortable with my playing. I would never have been able to learn about music if it wasn't for the education received from my band directors, music minister, and flute teacher. All of these people provided me with musical knowledge and skill.

I find that music is an education that can be felt by everyone. I have found myself playing in handbell choirs whose mission is to reach people through the music. For example, I was able to see elderly people in a nursing home who are unable to help themselves or think for themselves show emotion as we played simple holiday songs on the handbells. These emotions, both happiness and sentimentality, touched their entire family. Because of their response, our musical education was used as outreach to help others receive comfort in even a small way.

I also learned what it meant to...