The value of music education is often overlooked. The impact of having music in your life from a young age is invaluable. The skills you develop when learning music have so many applications and positive impacts. Never mind the social aspect of being able to participate in a universal language from as early as age 3 or 4.
Music theory? That’s a lesson in fractions, Latin, Italian, and history.
Rhythm? Thats a lesson in mathematics, poetry, and culture.
School recital? Thats a lesson in public speaking, courage, and collaboration.
Science has proven that learning music from a young age has tremendous measurable benefits. It stimulates parts of our brain in our youth that are often left untouched until later years in life. Music lessons in school are not designed to craft the next musical geniuses, or set children on the path of a career in music.
These music lessons are essential in the development of our youth. They teach to think outside of the box. They teach children to appreciate fine art, and give them the abilities to express themselves without using their words.
Music education is so complex and rich. It would be a tragedy to see that disappear.
The Atlanta school district has eliminated dozens of music teacher positions for the coming school year. That means many students will see cuts and changes in elementary school bands and orchestras when they head back to school.
Atlanta had been one of a relatively small number of districts offering elementary band andorchestra, Georgia Music Educators Association Executive Director Cecil Wilder said. Fulton County cut elementary band and orchestra in 2010, despite protests from parents and students.
The Atlanta school board voted in May to eliminate approximately 25 band and orchestra teaching positions, most of them at the elementary level. District officials later revised that number: District spokesman James Malone told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about 18 positions would be cut.
All elementary schools will continue to have weekly general music instruction, which includes chorus and a general introduction to musical instruments, Malone said. But twice-weekly band and orchestra classes will no longer be a given. Some schools may cut band and orchestra entirely. Others may offer privately funded before- or after-school instruction or ask their general music teachers to offer additional instruction.
Atlanta expects to hire about the same number of teachers this year as last — about 3,150. But this year principals were told they could choose how to “spend” part of their teacher allotment. That’s different from past years.
“In communities where there is a robust interest in band, it is unlikely that the principal chose to eliminate band altogether, ” said Associate Superintendent David White. In others, schools may have eliminated band or orchestra “because of a lack of interest or involvement.”
With that background, here is the essay:
By Dantes Rameau and Aisha Bowden
Recently the Atlanta Public Schools decided to allow their elementary schools to cut band and orchestra programs, further reducing the number of students who have the option to receive instrumental music instruction.
Yet, elementary school is the perfect age to engage kids in instrumental music instruction because that’s when they have more time and are more open to trying new things.
The Atlanta Music Project brings music education to children in under-served neighborhoods. (AJC/Bita Honarvar)
Perhaps more importantly, music can lay the groundwork for pathways to success. Music education requires kids to invest in themselves, and that inspires others to invest in them.
We know this because as co-founders of the Atlanta Music Project we have seen our students’ musical development open many doors for them that will be life changing.
The Atlanta Music Project was founded five years ago to provide intense music education to under-served youth right in their neighborhood. Our program builds after-school youth orchestras and choirs in communities where intensive music instruction is not typically available.
Thanks to their own hard work and determination, our students have been able to experience several amazing accomplishments. Among them: performances at the Woodruff Arts Center and the Atlanta Film Festival, joint concerts with the Morehouse College Glee Club and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestras of Atlanta, and filming a commercial for broadcast on ESPN during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Most music teachers can rattle off similar performance experiences of their own students.
These musical opportunities are crucial, not only because they allow children to shine, but also because they inspire the community to action. For example, taking notice of our students’ dedication and many accomplishments, an anonymous donor recently approached us to establish the Atlanta Music Project Endowed Scholarships at Clayton State University. Through this fund any Atlanta Music Project student can now attend Clayton State as a music major or minor, with all their expenses covered.
While the Atlanta Music Project serves a couple hundred students, we will never be able to reach as many children as APS can through taxpayer-funded public education. Our experience in the field of music education tells us the Atlanta community wants to help children develop into great citizens. And it helps when the community sees children doing great things to improve their own lives.
Let’s remember that when we eliminate instrumental music education we reduce the chances for kids to show their best selves and inspire those around them to action.
U.S. Senate Designates Music as a Core Subject, What Does That Mean? http://t.co/jJUbo7feof via @baltsymphony #musiceducation #esea
— Marketing Music Ed (@MktgMusicEd) July 24, 2015
Senate Passes Every Child Achieves Act, with Music and Arts as Core Subjects, Intact National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
The Senates action today is an important step forward in ensuring that all studentsregardless of their socioeconomic statusexperience the demonstrable positive impact that music education has on learning and life. More than 14,000 letters have been sent to Capitol Hill on behalf of music teachers and students. There is bipartisan support for music and arts in this legislationsenators from across the country are acknowledging that these subjects should be national education priorities. Via nafme.org
Expose children to classical music whether they like it or not, says Nicola Benedetti
Benedetti, the award-winning violinist, said all youngsters should be exposed to classical music, whether they like it or not. Saying the concept of letting children do exactly what they want in other areas of education is alien she admitted she is “bemused” by the current approach to teaching art and culture. Via telegraph.co.uk