In California, The Music for All Foundation used information from the California Basic Educational Data System. They did a five year study on the statistics of declining academic music programs from all the schools in the state from 1999 through 2004. They found that students involved in music education courses dropped by 50%. The truth is that it is not just California, it’s across the United States. There is a lack of money and horrendous budget cuts that need to be made. Schools look at music programs first to give the boot. Why are the schools cutting back and taking away such a precious knowledge of music from their students? Being enabled with musical knowledge has numerous benefits to individuals mentally, physically, and socially.
On The Huffington Posts, Peter Greene, who loves music. Has a very different approach on defending music education says, “There are so many reasons for music education. Soooooooo many. And ‘it helps with testing’ or ‘makes you do better in other classes’ belong near the bottom of that list.” (1) He does not like the fact that people who argue music should stay in schools only defense for the claim will make students better in class. They learn a valuable skill and now can use their own imagination, rather than someone else. I know from personal experience that all the general classes like history and math can drain me. Music and the arts leave me wanting more, full of self driven motives to get my work done. Expressing emotions and using my own thinking does rather than someone else’s thoughts. Learning what newton was thinking and his work in our science classes. For example, music has that aspect as well, “You know and like going through kind of a curriculum about people who have already gone through, or have already done the hard work of figuring out the instrument, and then putting it in an organized way for you.” (Jasper Nephew 2) Music also has a very important creative side to it. I love seeing everyone’s work and thoughts, as well as creating my own. Those classes are no worse than any other program, and they are well needed, but I also agree that music
Many people like Jasper it is literally their entire life and would be devastated to see it disappear. “Man, how has music impacted my life? Everyday, just pure enjoyment, like I get so much happiness from music. Just listening to music, playing music, so there 's that, there 's that side of my personal enjoyment of music” (Jasper Nephew 3) Music is very healthy for our brains, as well as to our spirits. I can 't find anyone who doesn’t enjoy music. Being enabled with musical knowledge has numerous benefits to individuals mentally, physically, and socially. I believe music education should be in our schools and available for any individual who wants to pursue
Throughout history music has played an important role in society, whether it was Mozart moving people with his newest opera or the latest album from the Beatles. Where would society be today without music? With schools cutting their music programs, the next Mozart may not get his chance to discover his amazing talent. Music programs are essential to education. To fully understand this one must understand how music helps the human body, why schools have cut music programs, and why people should learn music.
The budget for schools were reduced from $68.2 billion dollars to $59.0 billion in one year. With a $9.2 billion dollar cut in budget, schools will have to have sacrifices, and “with current state standardized testing and requirements for academic standards, core curricular classes will always be safe” (Dickson) music programs are the first to go. Music programs are not courses that get tested in, so they are not seen as an important factor to school boards. But when classes that do not have the rigor of other subjects they are not seen as crucial to the academics of a student. With the funds cut for schools, and the money still needed for books and paychecks for teachers, there are other ways to earn money for extracurricular activities like band or choir. “While music programs saw an average budget increase of 11 percent during the 1994-95 year, more than half of that now comes from outside fundraising” (Archer), like car washes, coupon cards, and bake sales. While band and choir take up lots of funds, for instruments, uniforms or robes, and trips the group may go on, fundraising takes most of the costs away. With fundraising, costs for music programs will not be as much as they would be without it. The students get more out of fundraising than they would with it being just a class where they studied and got homework. Music gives them ways to actively see what it is like to perform in front of the community as well as
Many schools around the country are cutting their music program because of budget cuts in their counties. The arts for some reason are always the first to be cut; apparently the school doesn’t think they are essential to their students learning. Schools try to focus on the more important academic classes because of the high testing standards they must now meet. (Nesoff 2003) This is not just happening in poor school districts it is happening in large districts across the country including magnet schools for the arts: “When Albert Margolis and his wife attended the final music program for their son's kindergarten class in May, they were shocked when a teacher stood up after the performance and announced that the music program was cut indefinitely…Bathgate Elementary School in Mission Viejo in California's affluent Orange County, is a magnet school for the arts…” (Nesoff 2003) When magnet schools for the arts start cutting music you know there is a problem. The problem is the schools do not know the importance of music and the arts and how necessary they are for children to grow and become cultured in our society.
Before addressing the need for music instruction in our schools I would like to briefly examine the need for education of any kind. Education is a means of making sure our society has a given set of knowledge. The set of knowledge we perceive ourselves as needing changes based on our surroundings and the issues we are dealing with. In American education's early history we perceived ourselves as needing a set of knowledge that included a common language and common view of history, as well as knowledge of those things with which we would interact every day. In many ways early public education was more a means of social control than an altruistic endeavor. In today's climate we see ourselves as having more diverse needs in our education...
Much too often in America today, modern music and art programs in schools are perceived to many as extracurricular activities rather than important subjects that are vital to a students learning and skill development. The truth of the matter is that encouraging music and art education in public schools has a much larger impact on student’s grades, academic performance, and the economy than the majority people realize. Within the next year city school budgets will be dropping by twenty five percent, and despite the fact that music and art programs have been showing a dramatic contribution to student’s learning, this substantial drop in funding for the programs will lead to no dedicated money for art or music programs (Mezzacappa). There is no doubt that a cut in funding for art programs will take a huge toll on students overall grades and test scores. Research has found that the studying of music and art facilitates learning in other subjects and enhances children’s skills in other areas (Brown). Furthermore, providing students with a creative outlet can do great justice in reducing the stress from many other classes and even offer insight for students in possible career paths involving the art field. The art industry today currently supports 4.1 million full-time jobs (Dorfman). By increasing the funding of music and art programs for students preschool through twelfth grade we can see a dramatic increase in the education of children across the United States, assist with skill development in young students, and greatly benefit the economy at the same time.
The position that is being argued is that music should stay in schools. This author is making the claim that music makes children excel in their education. This author uses many different sources. The author relies mainly on studies to back up his argument. The article is recent.
A fine arts education including music, drawing, painting, and photography has been a part of a well rounded curriculum for decades, but soon that may be changing. The fine arts department in the public education system has constantly been barraged with budget cuts. On several occasions, The Texas Education Agency has repeatedly refused to provide sufficient financial aid to back up important funds that are set up to benefit our youths. These funds are are now coming from parents in a desperate attempt to keep several deemed “unnecessary” programs from shutting down. Not only does the art and music education is essential to the children's learning process, it also grants them the proficiency to mature and become versatile citizens, and why together as a state, we needed to campaign together to save these programs.
middle of paper ... ... Music was not taught in the high school I was in. To satisfy my interest in learning about music and how to play musical instruments, I had to find a source of education other than school; a great depiction in agreement with Graff’s claim that students are being limited by not considering their interests when creating curricula (Graff 197). In conclusion, education is broader than just falling into what the contemporary school system has to offer. Both Gatto and Graff proved this by explaining how conforming students to certain perspectives of education limits their potential in other educational branches that interest the students.
The Importance of Arts Education Jane Alexander, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), once said, “Many children are missing out on something which gives their education context, gives their lives depth and meaning, and prepares them to be the future workforce.” This “something” that she spoke of is music and art education. Unfortunately, she is entirely correct. We are currently seeing a dramatic cut in arts education curriculum in our public schools due to the limited amount of time and funding. In many cases, budget cutbacks mean arts education cutbacks.
Many sources show that children that play some sort of instrument have improved creative and critical thinking skills. It is essential to keep music programs in schools. It is not only important for students to play music because it improves test scores, but because
“Are the arts really a vital asset in my child’s education?” This topic held a popular slot a decade ago, but today the crucial issue seems to have fallen by the wayside. Attention has been turned towards standardized testing and a focus on core subjects that are supposedly essential to the student’s performance in and out of the classroom. What many do not know is that the arts have a significant affect on people of all ages, especially children. The problem is, facts have been overlooked, causing state boards to make severe budget cuts in school systems nationwide. Unfortunately, the arts departments are always the first to go. Funding is decreased, and a disturbing amount of teachers are laid off. Statistics show that SAT scores are significantly
Life would be pretty boring without musicians and artists creating such pleasurable music for us. Not everyone in the world plays an instrument, because only selected few have the gift to play and the passion for it. Students should not be required to play an instrument in school because individuality takes place in this situation, certain talents and the required attention needed, of course. Although music can become a big, influential role in someone's life, it's not meant for everyone. Kids should voice their feelings on schools making music programs a requirement.
"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul” (Pinterest).Anyone who has ever listened to music can tell that it has a beat, melody or even sing the exact lyrics. However, not everyone knows to what extent music impacts you and has a substantial effect on others. It can not only sway the way one acts or thinks, but it can also completely alter one’s mood. Although, some people may think music has beneficial and positive impacts, it can also be extremely distracting and even fatal. Music can shape a person, persuade them, act as therapy to them and affect their physical and mental performance.
Music is beneficial for a person because it evokes focus, elevates one’s mood, and enhances exercise. Music has been shown to help increase a person’s focus. “The rhythms and tempo of musical sound can assist us in setting and maintaining our attention and focus by perking us up when we are weary and helping us find peace and calm when we are over-energized in some way” (Brewer). This is because our brain has two systems that handle our attention. The conscious part of our attention focuses on the task at hand, while the unconscious part searches for something else to focus on.
Music, art, dance and drama is a huge hobby people may have. It been a class in school for many years. It’s a fun class that you can learn about your strengths and weaknesses. Many people don’t like the same hobby as others. I think that we should keep theses classes so we can learn about the background of it all. It shouldn’t be a requirement to take these classes it should be optional. kids need to learn what they like to do so they can learn what their career may be for the future. without these classes they can 't learn much about themselves.