| In this struggling economy, cutbacks are being made | | | | importance of music education. Many well known |
| in every part of our life. One of the areas is the fine | | | | musicians such as Nick Lachey, Run DMC and several |
| arts department and after school programs which | | | | actors and actresses have supported this non-profit |
| have been reduced or eliminated in many of our | | | | group. This group has worked together with Teen |
| school districts across the country. The first things to | | | | people magazine to put on a huge artist of the year |
| be eliminated typically are the non-core classes like | | | | event celebrating those in the music industry and |
| art, music and physical education. These are all | | | | bringing awareness to the fact that music education |
| important things that young children need in order to | | | | in schools in important. |
| be fully stimulated for their minds and their bodies. | | | | In addition to many different larger groups that are |
| The problem now happens that only the kids that | | | | supported by various celebrities, many smaller |
| can afford to take music lessons or to buy a student | | | | grass-root advocacy groups have formed trying to |
| violin or an electric violin will be able to experience the | | | | support music in schools too. One such group is called |
| many benefits that learning how to play an | | | | Music Friends and was started by parents and a small |
| instrument teaches. Because of this, many groups | | | | community that wished to support music in their local |
| across the country have formed to try to help kids | | | | school system. They are supported by MENC which is |
| to have access to the arts or to try to bring back | | | | The National Association for Music Education that |
| the arts to schools and why it is so important. | | | | was formed in the early 1900's and encourages the |
| Learning how to read music and play an instrument | | | | importance of music education in schools. |
| have been shown to help kids in school later on. | | | | This group advocates that music was stated as a |
| There have been studies to support this and state | | | | core subject in the No child left behind education Act |
| that kids, who are involved in music and learn to play | | | | of 2002 and how important it is and should not be |
| an instrument at an early age, will perform better in | | | | cut from school districts trying to save money. |
| math than students that have had no music lessons | | | | Whether it is a large national group or a small group in |
| or training. This is why it is so important to have this | | | | your community fighting to keep music in your |
| offered to all kids, not just the ones who can afford | | | | schools, the same message is being promoted. Music |
| private lessons. | | | | education benefits students; especially the younger |
| One example of a group that is supporting music | | | | ones in elementary school and districts should |
| education in schools is called AMC which stands for | | | | consider it as important as reading or math when |
| American Music Conference and is a national | | | | making budget cuts. |
| non-profit group that is intent on teaching the | | | | |