Strings Concert and Music Education Advocacy

Students from Jackson Public Schools strings programs, including Casey Elementary, gathered on the stage at Murrah High School to prepare for their performances at the All City Music Festival on Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

Parents and strings teachers helped students tune their instruments.

The lower elementary students performed in the gym of Murrah High School under the direction of Temperance Babcock-Steiskal, instructor at the Suzuki Strings program in Flowood, Mississippi.

Upper elementary students performed under the direction of Carla Briggs, director of the instrumental music program at Power APAC.

More information about this concert and the strings program at Casey and in other schools in JPS can be found here.

A wonderful resource for music education advocacy can be found here on the website for Music Education Online presented by Children's Music Workshop.

Just a few advocacy quotes that I liked from this site (you can read many more on the site):

• "College admissions officers continue to cite participation in music as an important factor in making admissions decisions. They claim that music participation demonstrates time management, creativity, expression, and open-mindedness." - Carl Hartman, “Arts May Improve Students’ Grades,” The Associated Press, October, 1999.

• “Music is exciting. It is thrilling to be sitting in a group of musicians playing (more or less) the same piece of music. You are part of a great, powerful, vibrant entity. And nothing beats the feeling you get when you've practiced a difficult section over and over and finally get it right. (yes, even on the wood block.) Music is important. It says things you heart can't say any other way, and in a language everyone speaks. Music crosses borders, turns smiles into frowns, and vice versa. These observations are shared with a hope: that, when schools cut back on music classes, they really think about what they're doing - and don't take music for granted." - Dan Rather — Journalist and Former CBS News Anchor

• "It is our job, as parents, educators, and friends, to see that our young people have the opportunity to attain the thorough education that will prepare them for the future. Much of that education takes place in the classroom. We must encourage our youngsters in such pursuits as music education. In addition to learning the valuable lesson that it takes hard work to achieve success, no matter what the arena, music education can provide students with a strong sense of determination, improved communication skills, and a host of other qualities essential for successful living." - Edward H. Rensi – President and Chief Operation Officer, U.S.A. McDonald's Corporation

As a parent, I am grateful for the outstanding music education my children receive in JPS as part of their regular, weekly music classes and as part of special programs like strings instruction.