I recently rec'd this alarming email from a friend of mine:

Hi there everybody,

I don't know if you have heard, but Fulton County (Georgia) just voted by a narrow margin to drop instrumental music from all public elementary schools. This decision has, obviously, caused an immediate outrage among Atlanta musicians who know how important it is for our kids' musical as well as intellectual health to start early. It also
scares me.

The New York Times did an article this past week on schools that have abandoned every class except math and reading in an effort to bring their students' test scores up (scores that are arbitrary at best--but that's just my opinion!). While I realize these particular schools are extreme cases, are they not also indicative of what's to come? Is taking music out of our elementary schools not just a step towards steamrolling over a well-rounded education? Is this the end of the line or are there more cuts to come? What's next? Junior high, high school...

Statistics across the board have proven that students who study music have better focus and broader understanding of new materials, and generally do better in school. I'm positive every parent has seen the effect of studying music on their child. The earlier we can offer them that opportunity the better chances they have. I urge all of you--and I very very rarely ask anyone to add their names to any list--to go to the website listed below and sign the petition to keep music in our schools. The site was created yesterday by a cellist in the Atlanta Symphony.

http://www.saveourkidsmusic.org

posted by Tales From Band Camp  # 2:27 PM