Is music getting enough support?

[provistbrahms]

I would like to know from all of you poster out there if you think that music is not getting enough support in our school systems. In my school at least I know that it hasn't been getting enough support. The school down the road from me only got $680.00 for new music, repairs, and new instruments which they are badly in need of. My own school only got 3000 dollars to repair, buy new music, and buy new instruments. It may seem like a lot but when you get down to the J.H. Band, Choir, and High School Band and Choir. There just isn't enough to go around. They say that they want us to have a good experience with music in our lives. How can they say this and not fund the music program properly? They contradict themselves by not keeping theirs words. This really drives me up the wall. What is the opinion of my fellow posters on this matter?

[~Leslie]

Well, in answer to yr question Prov, in a matter of speaking, no. It is my humble observation that in many areas on the local levels in the United States we the ppl are feeling the pinch in budget cuts.<P>Levies are not being passed by local tax paying citizens, and this causes a trickle down effect, (sorry, I had to go there) on our local schools and the funds allocated for promoting the fine arts. <P>It would seem the U.S. holds more priority towards the athletic and technological endeavors in our public school systems. I could be wrong, but I think our society puts more emphasis on competitive and academic areas.<P>Is it any wonder why our country is full of garage bands and self taught minstrels of the muse?<P><BR>The politics and economics of music is an endless subject that branches out in a multi-faceted way, effecting the education of tommorrows artists,what we listen to and buy, the star-maker machinery-- i.e. the recording industry, how artists are compensated, Napster and its subsequent clones in reputed electronic piracy, and so on. <P>Thus making it more apparent to those of us with children, that the responsibility begins at home, when kids are young and receptive enough to be exposed to the experience of the European classical tradition, and to be offered the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument,if desired, even if it means private instruction outside the public school. <BR>

[provistbrahms]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ~Leslie:<BR><B>Well, in answer to yr question Prov, in a matter of speaking, no. It is my humble observation that in many areas on the local levels in the United States we the ppl are feeling the pinch in budget cuts.<P>Levies are not being passed by local tax paying citizens, and this causes a trickle down effect, (sorry, I had to go there) on our local schools and the funds allocated for promoting the fine arts. <P>It would seem the U.S. holds more priority towards the athletic and technological endeavors in our public school systems. I could be wrong, but I think our society puts more emphasis on competitive and academic areas.<P>Is it any wonder why our country is full of garage bands and self taught minstrels of the muse?<P><BR>The politics and economics of music is an endless subject that branches out in a multi-faceted way, effecting the education of tommorrows artists,what we listen to and buy, the star-maker machinery-- i.e. the recording industry, how artists are compensated, Napster and its subsequent clones in reputed electronic piracy, and so on. <P>Thus making it more apparent to those of us with children, that the responsibility begins at home, when kids are young and receptive enough to be exposed to the experience of the European classical tradition, and to be offered the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument,if desired, even if it means private instruction outside the public school. </B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I agree with you Leslie. Good post! I do have to disagree with the fact that attention is attuned more to sports than it is music and the fine arts. The fine arts are more a part of the soul than sports could ever be in my opinion, because music and the arts touch the spirit, heart, and mind in undescribable ways.<BR>

[shostakovich]

Hi Provistbrahms. Check out your local TV listings for spirit, heart, mind, and sports.<BR>God, how I wish you were right.<BR>Shos

[audiogirl]

This discussion splits me right down the middle, because I love sports and I love music. <P>Yes, I believe that for some reason society values the competitive pursuits more than the arts. I do not pretend to know why.<P>I am troubled when anyone, regardless of political background, talks about taking money away from public schools. Maybe that's because I'm a teacher in a public school.<P>If school sports programs receive more money than they should, perhaps it is for economic reasons. Let me explain. In this part of the world, schools stand to gain plenty of revenue from sports programs. People pay an admission price pay to see little Junior play baseball or football or basketball. When you add up admission prices for a least one game of some kind each week in a school year, that can be quite a bit of dough. It takes a while to put together some kind of concert for the school orchestra. Schools don't charge admission every week for this. At least, from what I know. I'm not saying it's right, but I think it does happen.<P>Does playing a high school sport affect the soul? It did for me. I had a coach who was the epitome of gentlemanly conduct and integrity. He is well-known in my state for his winning record and his insistence that his players, fans, and faculty display courtesy and sportsmanship. I learned a lot more than a jumpshot from him. <P>The sports world has a well-earned reputation for being comprised of overpaid, infantile egomaniacs. The music world has a few of those, too.....hence the entertainment industry. <P>There are those sports stories, though, that lift the spirit and warm the heart. I refer you to a movie, based on a true story, titled "Rudy"------guaranteed to make the crustiest curmudgeon reach for his hanky. <p>[This message has been edited by audiogirl (edited 03-19-2001).]

[BenG]

At the risk of sounding like the crusty curmudgeon that I am, I still think TOO much money and emphasis goes into sports. Yes, I'm all for physical fitness and I played sports myself...it just needs to be kept in perspective. I liked 'Rudy' a lot. So sure, buy those football uniforms. Just don't cut the band uniforms from the budget in the process.<P>In an age of increasing teen suicide, despair, bullying, school shootings, drug abuse...you name it...classical music is one of the life preservers available for kids to grab. In an age of violent video games, violent movies and prepackaged corporate violent music, sports can impart a goal and sense of belonging. Classical music is available to all--even those who aren't athletically inclined. It offers something of value to all kids: An ineffable meaning of life and a reason to be happy and alive. Something that lasts long after the physical athleticism has faded.<P>Crustfully,<BR>BenG

[audiogirl]

Okay, follow me WAY out on a limb, here. I promise, PB, that this is somewhat relevant to your topic. It was BenG's post that made me think of it. <P>I read the article on this site about conductors having above-average aural abilities, as well as the one about ability to play instruments being more inborn than learned. Shos has commented that loving classical music is a talent, as well. I've heard people say that they are seriously tone deaf, that they actually cannot hear the difference between two notes.<P>I also know plenty of people that really get into the words of a song, but don't seem to care too much about the music underneath.<P>There is a real disorder known as central auditory processing disorder, in which there is a breakdown in the ear's ability to communicate with the brain.<P>Some of the areas the folks in my profession work on are auditory memory and auditory discrimination------roughly, the ability to remember what you hear, and discriminate between words or sounds that are similar. This is really hard for some people---also has to do with learning styles, as someone has mentioned.<P>Most of us agree that music appreciation depends largely on exposure to it, playing an instrument, etc., but after reading studies that seem at least kind of scientific, I had to wonder if music appreciation has a somewhat neurological basis, that maybe it's more "nature" and less "nurture" than we think.<P>Like I said, I have taken huge liberties with this, so feel free to say that it's utter codswallop.<P>It may be a partial explanation as to why some people don't get into the classical sound.<P><p>[This message has been edited by audiogirl (edited 03-21-2001).]

[BenG]

Audiogirl, have you ever read Arthur C. Clarke's classic book "Childhood's End?" Alien 'Overlords' arrive on Earth to save mankind from itself and also help usher it along to its next stage of evolution. The Overlords were physically and intellectually far superior to humans and possibly the most advanced beings in the galaxy. BUT (and this is a big but) they were incapable of enjoying the fine arts. They understood music on a theoretical or mechanical basis only. They attended a classical music concert and just couldn't understand why humans found it so appealing. To them it was merely patterns of sound. Ironically, the humans proved superior because of this added dimension. The Overlords were at an evolutionary dead end. This may be a load of twaddle (synonymous with codswallop), but I suspect some people, like the Overlords, are genetically incapable of 'getting it.' Just like there are some color blind people who can't appreciate a Monet.<P>(p.s...keep those interesting words coming...I love 'em!)<p>[This message has been edited by BenG (edited 03-21-2001).]

[audiogirl]

Never read it, but it sounds interesting. Very Madeleine L'Engle-esque, kind of like A Wrinkle In Time? Been there? Read that?<P>Perhaps we should devote this to another thread. I challenge you to come up with a topic title...BTW, you don't sound crusty in the least.