Re: NCLB Leaves Music Education Behind

[aburke5054@aol.com]

The National Association for Music Education advances the astounding 
claim that early introduction to music improves kids' chances of going 
to college and subsequently earning the big bucks, and Tony Soprano's 
consigliere, no less, vouches for it.  It's almost like this is about a 
special interest and not about kids at all.

Art

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Schaeffer <bobschaeffer@earthlink.net>
To: ARN Main List <arn-l@interversity.org>; arn2-strategy 
<arn2-strategy@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 8:06 am
Subject: [arn-l] NCLB Leaves Music Education Behind

New Harris Poll Links Music Education to Advanced Studies and Higher
Incomes;

National Association for Music Education and Artist Steven Van Zandt
Endorse Findings


No Child Left Behind Act is Leaving Music Education Behind, Despite
Proven Benefits


   WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At an event with 
actor

and musician "Little" Steven Van Zandt and MENC: The National 
Association

for Music Education, Harris Interactive today released an independent 
poll

which shows a positive association of music with lifelong educational

attainment and higher income. Nearly nine in ten people (88 percent) 
with

post graduate degrees participated in music education. Further, 83 
percent

of those with incomes higher than $150,000 or more participated in 
music.


   With the No Child Left Behind Act currently up for reauthorization 
in

Congress, a discussion on music education is more important right now 
than

ever. Music is recognized, on paper, as a core academic subject but 
with

actual testing in only a narrow range of subjects, music is usually one 
of

the first programs to be cut.


  "Research confirms that music education at an early age greatly

increases the likelihood that a child will grow up to seek higher 
education

and ultimately earn a higher salary. The sad irony is that 'No Child 
Left

Behind' is intended to better prepare our children for the real world, 
yet

it's leaving music behind despite its proven benefits," said Dr. John

Mahlmann, Executive Director of MENC: The National Association for 
Music

Education. "While music clearly corresponds to higher performing 
students

and adults, student access to music education had dropped about 20 
percent

in recent years, thanks in large part to the constraints of the No 
Child

Left Behind Act."


  Musician, actor and music education activist Steven Van Zandt adds,

"Obviously, music is a big part of my life and I've had remarkable

experiences as part of the music industry. That is why I am now 
combining

my life's work and my passion for music education. The Harris Poll and

other studies like it document the fact that you don't have to be a 
rock

star to benefit from music education. Music benefits everyone in all 
walks

of life. Through my Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, I am working with

professional music educators on the development of 'Little Steven's 
Rock

and Roll High School.' This curriculum will be available at no cost to

schools and can help future generations learn about music, history, 
culture

and the arts -- all through Rock and Roll."


  "If you want to be a CEO, college president or even a rock star, the

message from this survey is: take music," Mahlmann added. "As with 
reading,

writing and arithmetic, music should be a core academic focus because 
it is

so vital to a well rounded education and will pay dividends later in 
life,

no matter the career path taken."


  Respondents of the Harris Poll cite skills they learned in music as

helping them in their careers today. Seventy-two percent of adults with

music education agree that it equips people to be better team players 
in

their career and nearly six in ten agree that music education has

influenced their creative problem solving skills. Many also agree music

education provides a disciplined approach to problem solving, a sense 
of

organization and prepares someone to manage the tasks of their job more

successfully.


  An earlier Harris study shows significantly higher graduation and

attendance rates in schools with music programs (90.2 percent compared 
to

72.9 percent and 93.3 percent compared to 84.9 percent, respectively).


  Other studies show the value of music programs to our future

generations:


   -- Students in top quality music programs scored 22 percent higher 
in

      English and 20 percent higher in math on standardized tests 
mandated

     by the No Child Left Behind Act (University of Kansas)

   -- In 2006, SAT takers with coursework in music performance scored 
57

      points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 43 points 
higher

     on the math portion (The College Board, Profile of College-Bound

     Seniors National Report for 2006)


   "Parents, educators, state legislatures and the Congress need to 
take

these studies seriously. This relationship between music education and

better performance in life is not accidental. How are we supposed to

continue as a creative society without exposing our students to the 
arts?

Rock and Roll shapes our culture and is the great equalizer among 
people of

different racial, social and economic background. It belongs in the

schools!" said Van Zandt.


   MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world's 
largest

arts education organization, marks its centennial in 2007 as the only

association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than

130,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to 
graduate

school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has 
access

to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music

instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and 
resources

have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education 
as a

profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an 
integral

part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National

Standards for Arts Education.


  The Rock and Roll Forever Foundation:

  To educate and promote the history and achievements of Rock and Roll

music as well as other traditional and modern music forms. To save,

safeguard, archive, and collect important Rock and Roll and other 
musical

documents, histories, or artifacts. To preserve original analogue tape

master recordings. To help save or safeguard important Rock and Roll 
music

sites or venues, and to raise public awareness of the historical

significance of certain music sites or venues. To provide scholarships,

fellowships, or grants to young aspiring musicians. To teach the 
history of

Rock and Roll and its origins and document its impact on our nation's 
and

world culture. To donate or provide access to musical instruments,

training, recording equipment, and other musical skills to those who 
might

otherwise not have the opportunity to receive them. To insure that the

tremendous cultural and artistic benefits and achievements of Rock and 
Roll

music be passed down to future generations.


 
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-12-2007/0004703236&EDATE= 



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