Since doing this project, today was the hardest day for me to choose just one picture to post. I guess it just goes to show where my true passion and inspiration lie... with the kids!
As I was working in my office today I heard kids practicing their violins. I decided to take a break and snap a few shots. The music filled the cafeteria and surrounding hallways.
I looked at the group of kids playing and thought to myself, wow, what a great group of kids. Many of them do not come from the greatest homes with the most appropriate role models but they still make it a point to do well in school and their music. What makes them different from other kids? Probably many things but I am willing to bet that music plays a huge role!
“Music has a great power for bringing people together. With so many forces in this world acting to drive wedges between people, it’s important to preserve those things that help us experience our common humanity.” – Ted Turner, Turner Broadcasting System
“Music is one way for young people to connect with themselves, but it is also a bridge for connecting with others. Through music, we can introduce children to the richness and diversity of the human family and to the myriad rhythms of life.” – Daniel A. Carp, Eastman Kodak Company Chairman and CEOAn
An education rich in the arts and humanities develops skills that are increasingly crucial to the productivity and competitiveness of the nation’s workforce: the ability to think creatively, communicate effectively and work collaboratively, and to deal with ambiguity and complexity. Just as important, exposure to the arts and humanities fosters cultural literacy: the ability to understand and appreciate other cultures, perspectives and traditions; to read and understand music and literature; to craft a letter or essay; to design a Web site; and to discern the “hidden persuaders” in a political or commercial advertisement. Arts and humanities education also develops skills necessary to participate in one of the fastest-growing, economically significant set of occupations and industries in the American economy – the arts, cultural and intellectual property section. The “creative workforce” – which includes traditional artist categories (dancers, musicians, painters, actors, photographers, authors), as well as individuals employed in advertising, architecture, fashion design, film, video, music, publishing and software development – is growing at a rate more than double that for the rest of the nation’s workforces. -- Summary of paper by Prof. Ann M. Galligan, Northeastern University
For more information on supporting Music Education in schools go to the website of
Can I hug you???? Seriously, too many people (and politicians) think music is just singing songs and fluff- I teach SO many skills packed into a very short 40 minute lesson!
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