Is Music Education Good for our kids?
Ask the parent of any music student and the answer will be YES! Ask any former band or chorus member and the answer will be YES! Ask teachers and principles and most of them will say YES! Ask Board of Education members or politicians and the answer will be MONEY!
Music programs across the country are consistantly under fire at Budget time. Concerned parents, teachers and directors have to "justify" their budgets .... year after year. Why?
It boils down to money - what brings it in and what spends it - and that's sad. Education isn't about MONEY - it's about learning. Athletics makes money ... music doesn't. Athletic events charge admission .... musical events are free. This is a simple fact. The really sad thing is ... athletics and music both have a lot offer students above the usual "Reading, Writing and Arithmetic". Many football players will tell you they need the band at games. They feed off the energy of the music and the cheering. Ask them. Band members will tell you football games are fun and they LIKE cheering for the team .... playing when they score, or when the score isn't right (as in their team is behind). Ask them.
Why do kids see what adults don't?
The following information is taken from an online newsletter called "Why Not Music" and is used with permission. Look it over ..... see what researchers have discovered. Then decide:
Is Music Education Good for our kids?
Cairo High School hosted a seminar by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser for students and parents. As the high school band's webperson, I was on hand to take pictures. This program had a real impact on the students that attended. Check it out here.
The following is a list of online resources for Music Education. Please take the time to check them out.