• Latest
  • Trending
Mike Lawson (c) Sterling Ortiz

Perspective: Until Politicians Value School Music, Many Students Will Struggle

March 9, 2015
My Journey

My Journey

May 9, 2025
Headlines

Headlines

May 8, 2025
The Immediate Threat to School Music Programs

The Immediate Threat to School Music Programs

May 6, 2025
Perfect Scores, Faster with Dorico 6

Perfect Scores, Faster with Dorico 6

April 30, 2025
How I Got Here

How I Got Here

April 28, 2025
Costumes for Musical Theater Productions

Spring Sing – Leave Them Wanting More!

April 28, 2025
Free Music Tech Multi Tracks from Moby

Free Music Tech Multi Tracks from Moby

April 25, 2025
Costumes for Musical Theater Productions

Costumes for Musical Theater Productions

April 22, 2025
Mentorship Today: NAfME’s Path to the Future of Music Education!

Mentorship Today: NAfME’s Path to the Future of Music Education!

April 22, 2025
Enjoy the Ride!

Enjoy the Ride!

April 18, 2025
Advocacy in a Time of Uncertainty

Advocacy in a Time of Uncertainty

April 17, 2025
New Products

New Products

April 16, 2025
Monday, May 12, 2025
  • Contact
SBO+
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Advertise
  • Teachers’ Choice Awards
  • Columns
    • New Products
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
    • UpClose
      • Features
      • Commentary
      • Advocacy
      • MAC Corner
      • Inclusion
      • Milestones
      • MusicEd: Mentor Minute
      • Perspective
      • InService
    • Technology
      • Audio Tech
    • Performance
      • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
      • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
      • Modern Band
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Tone Deaf Comics
  • Teacher Nomination
  • Support
    • Email PR!
No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Advertise
  • Teachers’ Choice Awards
  • Columns
    • New Products
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
    • UpClose
      • Features
      • Commentary
      • Advocacy
      • MAC Corner
      • Inclusion
      • Milestones
      • MusicEd: Mentor Minute
      • Perspective
      • InService
    • Technology
      • Audio Tech
    • Performance
      • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
      • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
      • Modern Band
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Tone Deaf Comics
  • Teacher Nomination
  • Support
    • Email PR!
No Result
View All Result
SBO+
No Result
View All Result

Perspective: Until Politicians Value School Music, Many Students Will Struggle

byMike Lawson
March 9, 2015
in Commentary
0
Mike Lawson (c) Sterling Ortiz

Mike Lawson (c) Sterling Ortiz

399
SHARES
2.3k
VIEWS
Share on Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

Mike Lawson (c) Sterling OrtizI’ve made no secret of the fact that it was music classes that motivated me to get up in the morning and go to school. My own music education experience was in a fairly middle class school system. Participation in band meant your parents had to buy or rent an instrument for you. I saw a lot of lower income kids either not sign up for band or struggle with learning to play and later drop out because they were given substandard rental instruments that made learning more difficult.

Better quality instruments won’t play themselves: one still has to sit down and commit to learning, but a saxophone with poor padding and sticky keys is harder to play than one in good condition. When you get down to it, the difference between a student having access to a high quality instrument and a poor quality instrument is almost always about how much money that student’s parents can spend.

Some school districts are purchasing instruments for their band and orchestra programs, helping to remove the cost and quality barrier from a student/parent decision to join the school music program. These schools also let students bring their own instruments to the program, allowing more privileged students to learn the instrument of their choice. Students playing school-provided instruments don’t always get to choose which instrument they want to learn. If there are only four school-provided trumpets and they’ve all been allotted, the student is still encouraged to participate, but is steered to another instrument. There is both good and bad in this arrangement, but at least every student who wants to learn to play can do so, even if it’s not the instrument they originally wanted.

ADVERTISEMENT

I have been privileged to see some truly amazing music programs around the country–wealthy schools systems with astounding orchestra programs where top-notch instruments are provided to schools blessed with modern music production labs teaching notation, arranging, composing, recording, sound design, and sequencing using the latest technology.

Sadly, those programs are not the norm. For every one of those programs, I’ve encountered dozens struggling to provide the bare essentials. Some students wouldn’t dare dream of playing in their school band because their family might be struggling financially. There may be a lack of school-provided instruments. The student’s living conditions might prohibit them from having a quiet and secure place to rehearse. There could be dozens of factors at play. Music educators lament the lack of funding and support. They’re spread thin teaching band programs at multiple schools out of portable buildings or cafeterias, with barely enough students to even put together a class. These school systems often don’t understand the value of music education: how it positively impacts so many areas of the common core standards for other subjects outside of the arts, how it can uplift a child and encourage them to succeed in school, even if they succeed solely for the purpose of playing music.  Music in the schools doesn’t just make kids smarter, it motivates them to show up, to be engaged. It helps them dream of a better life and gives them confidence.

ADVERTISEMENT

The NAMM Foundation, an important arm of the National Association of Music Manufacturers, recently granted $214,000 for musical instruments, music teachers, and arts integration in support of Turnaround Arts schools. It supported research showing that Turnaround Arts students demonstrated significant progress in academic achievement between 2011 and 2014. Reading and math proficiency rates went up, with half of the schools seeing attendance rates increasing and suspension rates decreasing.

I applaud the organizations that help with this problem, but I’m perplexed as to why enthusiastic lack of political support is still a problem, when the direct benefits of music education have been so vividly demonstrated. I’m delighted to see my good friends at NAMM and others supporting school music programs. It’s sad that they have to do so when politicians have the ability to prioritize funding for music and arts in the schools, but simply don’t value what it does for our kids.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mike Lawson Signature

Mike Lawson

mlawson@timelesscom.com

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Headlines: Winners Crowned at Bösendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Piano Competition

Next Post

2015 Grammy Signature Schools Announced

Next Post

2015 Grammy Signature Schools Announced

Please login to join discussion
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference

50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference

December 2, 2024
When Selecting New Choral Music, Choose Success

When Selecting New Choral Music, Choose Success

February 26, 2025
Concert Band Set-up Fundamentals

Concert Band Set-up Fundamentals

August 29, 2019

TI:ME Announces Free PreSonus Revelator USB Microphone at 30th Anniversary Celebration at TMEA

January 17, 2025

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

0

BriLee’s Brian Busch: Man With a Mission

0

Third Annual Choral Directors of Note

0

July 2010

0
My Journey

My Journey

May 9, 2025
Headlines

Headlines

May 8, 2025
The Immediate Threat to School Music Programs

The Immediate Threat to School Music Programs

May 6, 2025
Perfect Scores, Faster with Dorico 6

Perfect Scores, Faster with Dorico 6

April 30, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • May 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • April 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • March 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • February 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
  • January 2025

    Articles | Digital Issue
© 2005 - 2025 artistpro, LLC
7012 City Center Way, Suite 207
Fairview, Tennessee 37062
(800) 682-8114
No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe to SBO+
    • Subscribe
    • Login/Manage Subscription
  • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
  • Advertise
  • Teachers’ Choice Awards
  • Columns
    • New Products
    • Travel/Festivals
      • Fundraising
    • UpClose
      • Features
      • Commentary
      • Advocacy
      • MAC Corner
      • Inclusion
      • Milestones
      • MusicEd: Mentor Minute
      • Perspective
      • InService
    • Technology
      • Audio Tech
    • Performance
      • Wind Talkers
      • Percussion
      • GoodVibes
      • Repertoire
      • Playing Tips
      • Modern Band
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Tone Deaf Comics
  • Teacher Nomination
  • Support
    • Email PR!

© 2005 - 2024 artistpro, LLC 7012 City Center Way, Suite 207 Fairview, Tennessee 37062 (800) 682-8114

Wenger EndurAd Promo