Recently, I spent my day in downtown Chicago with a close family friend, and I had the opportunity to do something I haven’t done in awhile — immerse myself in the cultural scene of Chicago’s fine arts. The day started at the Art Institute where we had the chance to admire some of the great cubists such as Picasso, impressionists such as Monet and ended at the Symphony Center where we indulged ourselves in the music of Bach, Schubert, and the Mexican classical composer Silvestre Revueltas.

I’ve always had a passion for the fine arts. When I was in fourth grade, my mother had me join band and I chose to play the alto saxophone. It became a major part of my life, evident mostly during my high school years. I sought out every opportunity I could when it came to playing. I was in the wind ensemble, marching band, jazz band, pep band, and pit orchestra. Some might say I was your typical band nerd.

Whenever I played in an ensemble setting, regardless of the musical style, whether classical or jazz, I was overwhelmed with emotions and passion. When we played the overture to Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” a jolly and cheerful piece with a quick tempo, I couldn’t help but feel the same presence of jollity and cheerfulness within the music. The same could be said when it came to “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral,”a sad and somber piece at a largo tempo written by the famous composer Richard Wagner.

I was indeed given a rare opportunity. Not many people had the chance to experience the same musical immersion that engrossed me, but without question, music served as an outlet like no other. It was a safe and almost cathartic way of channeling whatever feelings I had on the inside. If you’ve ever been curious as to what emotions sounds like, listen to music. Curse those who say magic isn’t real! Dumbledore himself said, “Ah, music … A magic far beyond all we do here!” Unfortunately, I can’t provide as solid of a testament when it comes to the other fine arts, but I pay tribute to music for helping me increase my understanding and awareness of them.

I may not be able to dance, but I can appreciate the art of it. My hand-eye coordination when it comes to the creation of art is equal to the skills of a mediocre second-grader, but when I walk through the exhibits of The Art Institute of Chicago, I know that I can look at the masterpieces with meaning and take them for what they’re worth.

The fine arts are an incredible thing. They expand your mind, help you view the world and open your mind in an abstract way that no other form of education can. There have even been studies that show that immersion into the fine arts leads to “neural systems that produce a broad spectrum of benefits ranging from fine motor skills to creativity and improved emotional balance.”

There is no doubt that my involvement in the fine arts helped me become the person I am today. There were many lessons that I learned from music, such as attention to detail and repetition, that have helped shape me into the student and person I am. Soon, I hope to see an increase in investments from public and private schools in the fine arts due to the outstanding benefits that are available. The fine arts help students become more culturally aware of their surroundings which I believe helps create a more well-rounded and better-educated individual.

Matt is a sophomore in LAS. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @matthewpasquini.