Have you ever thought about what it would be like living in a world without music?

A world devoid of Mozart, Chopin, Freddie Mercury, George Strait or Taylor Swift? Who hasn’t been moved by a favorite piece of music? It’s a medium of art capable of taking people from one emotion to another, a conduit to reliving a favorite — or even — hurtful memory.

It’s used in therapy, both professional and for those times when the high school heart is broken.

Either way, music plays a major part in how those of us living on this planet get from day to day, so it’s especially optimistic to see the steps that Austin High School and MacPhail Center for Music are taking to bolster an already strong music program in Austin.

The Austin Daily Herald was given a tour of the current renovation work going on in the AHS annex, converting it not only into a new home for MacPhail, but also a much better place for the high school music programs.

Superintendent David Krenz showed off the new choir room and explained other renovations including the incorporation of MacPhail. It will be an amazing update in continuing the lively music tradition of Austin.

It will open up opportunities and foster a growth of music within those students in Austin taking part in either program, but it’s optimistic in another way. It shows a school that has discovered the worth of music programs and wishes to give all students every opportunity in the world to pursue their passions whether academically or musically. It’s fostering a love of the arts as a whole.

This is especially important in a day and age school districts confronted with budget constraints will often cut music and art programs first.

On the website Get Healthy, Stay Healthy, benefits of music include: Improved mood, reducing stress, lessons anxiety, improves exercise, improves memory, eases pain, provides comfort, improves cognition, helps children with autism and soothes premature babies.

Granted, not all of those things listed will affect elementary, junior high and high school students who join band or choir, but those programs often times promote a base love of music, seeding an appreciation in those taking music while at the same time helping to promote a healthy attitude.

Why wouldn’t a school district want this in their school?

In short, the music programs in Austin will get a major boost from this renovation and we hope that music continues to get the full support of not only AHS, MacPhail and parents, but the community of Austin as well.