The NAEP study, often called the nation's report card, was done in 1997 on a representative sample of students across the nation attending both public and private schools. Previous report cards have assessed students' performance in math, history, reading and science. Arts education can be a creative way of connecting young people into education. What fascinates me is how the education of a child, using the Orff approach and its elemental emphasis of speech, movement, playing, improvising and singing, fosters the further development of all the intelligences, singly and together. Creating children who will thrive when they are adults is our single most important task as parents and teachers.
Music touches every aspect of what it takes to thrive.
It is definitely important to children in school. Some of the things that you can do, as Fine Arts educators, is to place factual information in our school newsletters to keep parents informed of the value of music education. One such blurb used in this month's newsletter at my school, was borrowed from the excellent site, Music Is . . Music helps prepare students for a career and is an avocation. Music makes the day more alive and interesting, which in turn leads to more learning.