Don’t cut music and art from our schools.

It seems like I hear every couple days that a school somewhere in Michigan just cut all of their funding for the music program and the art program.  I understand that decisions have to be made and people often assume that music and art are not subjects that are necessary.  I am someone who has studied music and I can still understand that line of thinking.  I do think, however, that it is very naive to think that way.  There is a reason that music and art have been traditionally involved in public education.  I don’t know why exactly, but I’m just gonna go ahead and say it’s because music and art are very important.  Yes it’s true that not everyone can be a musician, or an artist.  It is also true that not everyone can be an engineer or a doctor.  Everything is about balance in life, and we need a little of this, and a little of that to make it all work.  Try to think about movies without a musical soundtrack.  How would any business succeed without the artists that produce all of their promotional materials.  With the slightest amount of common sense you can take a look around and see that the world would be a vastly different place without music and art. I heard once that insane asylums were at one time some of the most beautifully built and decorated places anyone could go.  It was thought that being in a beautiful place would help contribute to the mental and emotional conditions of the people that were committed.  Somewhere along the line people figured that it was just an extra expense to have to decorate places for crazies.  Modern day insane asylums are always depicted as places with neon lighting and white walls everywhere.  For many people who live in affluent areas it is of little concern that they would ever lose such programs in their schools.  In many areas though, the reality is that music and art are being cut.  If this continues we could possibly have whole generations of people who miss out on an opportunity to be introduced to something like music and art, which many people love.  In elementary school I didn’t really care for either class but it was a good break to go stand and sing or be creative with paintbrushes.  It always felt good to work with the left side of the brain.  Does anyone out there have anything to share on this subject?  I would love your feedback.

 

 

by Musicguru