TO A CURRICULUM COMMITTEE OF A BOARD OF EDUCATION OR A PROVINCIAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Name
Address
Date
 
 
 
Curriculum Committee
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Dear

We are writing on behalf to emphasize our support of music in the curriculum of our schools and to ask that it continue to be an important part of our children's education.

With the cutbacks in funds for education, many jurisdictions are slashing the resources allotted for the arts in a disproportionate manner when compared with other subject areas. Music programs are suffering greatly and in many cases disappearing altogether.

Music and the other arts are vitally important today, almost more so than at any other time in our history. The world seems to have become desensitized to the disturbing events that are causing great harm to our children.

In our society our children are more and more at risk of not growing up whole in mind, body and spirit. The incidence of child and family abuse is growing rapidly. By the time the average child is 18 he or she has watched approximately 8, 000 murders on TV and witnessed un told numbers of acts of violence. Thousands of children carry guns and knives lo school; every day violent crimes are being committed in ever-increasing numbers by younger and younger children. It would seem that we need to concentrate on leaching and reaching the hearts, souls and minds of our young people. Good music education programs do just that.

1.Music is a distinct academic discipline in its own right and is considered by many to be a unique intelligence.

2.Music study encourages self-discipline and promotes responsibility and cooperative effort.

3. Music opens up avenues of success for at-risk students. Many such high-school students have said that they remained in school because of the music program. Participation in music gave them a sense of accomplishment and self-worth.

4.Music helps children understand their own history and culture and that of others, which is very important in our multicultural society. It also helps children from other lands feel less alienated in our schools if the songs and music of their culture are explored in music class.

5.Music encourages communication for a child who cannot talk, or perhaps does not understand the language being spoken. There is a place for all in music - everybody can play a drum, clap lo the beat and participate with joy.

The following are some of the points we would ask you to consider as a curriculum committee:

All students in every school and regardless of ability or disability should be able to have equal access to a quality music education program.

There should be a qualified music educator who administers and coordinates the music program in -each school district.

A curriculum should be written for all school districts that leads logically and sequentially from level to level from kindergarten through high school.

Music education should be provided by qualified music educators.

Adequate budgets should be established so that appropriate books, music and equipment can be purchased to implement and support the curriculum.

At least 110 minutes of every week should be allotted to music instruction in every elementary school. In high school every student should be able to take at least one year (or its equivalent) of general music.

The equivalent of one year of music should be required for graduation from high school.

A variety of styles and forms of music should be part of the elementary school curriculum and these should be taught through activities such as singing, listening, moving, creating and playing simple classroom instruments.

Bands, orchestras and choral groups and music technology programs should be available for interested students in the upper grades.

In these times, music and the other arts should be emphasized in our schools. Our world is in desperate need of the humanizing influence of these subjects to help educate our children to becoming caring human beings, mindful of the needs of others.

We would like an opportunity to meet with you and to discuss our concerns regarding the current and future state of music education in our schools.

Thank you for you attention in this vitally important manner.

Yours sincerely,