The Importance of Being Earnest

If I ever feel like playing the saddest song in the world on the world’s smallest violin, I think about the de-emphasis of the arts in today’s society. Math and science are in the driver’s seat and the arts and even sports, particularly at the primary and secondary levels, are taking a back seat.

From a societal perspective, math and science make you smart. From an educational perspective, math and science make you have better test scores and therefore earn more money and support for your school. Rather than diminish the importance of math, science or money, I will spend my time earnestly advocating for music.

Music and the arts in general are critical to the fundamental, well-rounded education that every student deserves. Unfortunately, efforts like the No Child Left Behind Act and other programs, policies and reforms have put music in the back seat to math and science.

DEFINITION: The “Pyramid of Intervention” is a term applied to the system of supports that a school provides for its struggling students. It is assumed that author’s statement above refers to the actual application of this concept, rather than its theoretical implementation. Additionally, it is not known exactly what model was used in this case. The picture is for example only and is apparently designed for online curricula.

I’ll be the first to admit, a degree in music or the arts in-and-of-itself does not generally come with the promise of artistic or financial success. I have often heard the joke, “You can take your degree in music and 25 cents and go buy a cup of coffee.” Now we both know that is completely untrue, because you can’t find a good cup of coffee anywhere for 25 cents these days. The last one I bought at Starbucks (a latte) cost me nearly $5, so I am apparently $4.75 short of a valuable education. …And if you look at it in those kinds of terms, one could easily come to the conclusion that the arts are less valuable in regard to the potential for success.

However, there is much more to the complexity of education than a job that can be specifically attributed to one’s degree. In fact, I wonder how many people actually are doing exactly what the title on their diploma implies they are qualified to do. I suspect there are not as many as one would think. I am a perfect example of how the 25 cent cup of coffee theory is flawed. My career has literally nothing to do with music, even though my undergraduate degree is in music composition and theory. In fact, I am not only employed, but my degree (having a degree in general, that is) allowed me to get a job that is comparatively very good in terms of the average job prospect.

Getting a job with your diploma is only one aspect of an education, and certainly an important one at that… But my advocacy for music and arts education is more specific to their value as models for teamwork, excellence and success. I can think of no better example of teamwork than an orchestral, choral, band or theatrical performance. I believe music and the arts teach team-building skills even more efficiently than sports, as there is generally less emphasis on star players. In music, being part of the team means to contribute your personal best to the ensemble in order to reach the goal of the ensemble as a whole… An excellent performance.

A good performance is one thing, but developing one’s intellect and critical thinking skills is invaluable. The number of processes and decisions that occur during a single performance of music must be astounding. Such complex activity is responsible for the formation of long lasting connections that help keep the mind healthy and strong. Research suggests that persons who are involved in the arts or music throughout their lives are generally have sharper minds toward the latter years of their lives. This is partly due to the fact that such performance calls on nearly every aspect of the mind and body.

…Evidence suggests that long-term musical involvement reaps cognitive rewards–in language skills, reasoning and creativity–and boosts social adjustment. Music exercises the brain. Playing an instrument, for instance, involves vision, hearing, touch, motor planning, emotion, symbol interpretation–all of which activate different brain systems. This may be why some Alzheimer’s patients can perform music long after they have forgotten other things. (article)

Given this kind of information, one might conclude that the arts are of at least equal importance in the overall health and development of the mind. Sadly, society seems to be missing this critical point. Some schools of psychology would tend to agree:

It’s a disgrace. Some people claim that music programs are too expensive, but killing music programs deprives children of intellectual, personal and social benefits. I know it sounds corny, but by failing to foster musicality, our society is wasting its potential. Perhaps if more people knew music’s true benefits, it would be restored to more schools. (article)

An example of a perception that the arts are secondary to other forms of education:

A couple of years ago, I was required to document the time I spent as a high school choral director with students after school hours — not the time I spent planning or calculating grades, but actual time teaching students beyond the school day. When totaled, the time came to 66 extra eight-hour days between August and May. With my salary supplement, this came to roughly $3.79 per hour. During the school day, I was teaching double the number of students of a regular classroom teacher and working to raise money to pay for the activities and supplies needed to run my classes. I have been a financial bargain for the public school system. (article)

This example clearly illustrates the lack of support for arts education programs, at least in Georgia. That the program still exists and that there is someone who is willing to put in so much effort to make it work is, at least, encouraging. It will take more than the efforts of individual teachers to promote the value of a solid educational foundation in the arts. It will take a change in perception as a society and a government. …Perhaps a return to the importance of traditional culture as a mindset.

So, as I sit here playing the world’s smallest violin, I can take solace in knowing that I am, at least, ’stimulating my mind and attempting to live up to my full potential’. I hope the many more artists will pick up their instruments and play along. Hopefully, we will then be able to sound a chord in favor of the arts that will resonate throughout the educational and political communities.

Raw Links:

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/we-fail-students-by-106510.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060622172738.htm

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200009/music-the-mind

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