I believe that the exchange of ideas between different cultures and disciplines is an essential component of modern education. The students of this generation are being raised in an ever-increasingly connected world, and it is important that they discover the world around them as well as their role within the international community. With this in mind, music lends itself to being a powerful tool to engage these learners in a captivating yet meaningful way. The benefits of the study of music go far beyond performance ensembles and technical virtuosity on an instrument; they can fundamentally supplement and enrich a studentʼs core curriculum through interdisciplinary learning and collaboration. For this reason, I am a strong proponent of music appreciation classes and study in addition to performance ensembles, not only to engage those students who may not desire or have the capacity for a music performance track, but also to use my knowledge of music to support the heart of the learning process rather than allow it to function as an extracurricular activity on the fringe of it.