Building a Community Through Music

Leah Biber, Integral Steps’ Board Member and parent, shares what it means to build a community through music, and why it is so important for her to include music in her son’s education. 
Leah shares:

• When a child creates relationships through music, they carry those relationships into adulthood. That was the case in my music education and I already see it with my son.
• Kids have other adults to go to, and that’s something they will always cherish. That’s also important for me as a mom, knowing that my kid has other adults he knows and trusts. As a parent, the wider you can make their community the wider they can make their perspective. 
• To create a community, you have to provide consistency and stable relationships. Both things are important for a child to foster as they create a safe space for them.
• Music provides useful skills for life. For example, after I played professionally for a long time, I transitioned to a job in farming as an urban farmer, and the skills I had from learning and performing music translated into my work ethic, my discipline, and how I present information to other people. All skills that have been key to my new job. In other words, music provides skills to adjust to different situations in life.  

Now we ask you, what does it mean to build a community through music? Why is it important for you and your family?