"With music education eliminated from many public schools, it's not getting any easier to cultivate the followers any art form needs if it's to flourish."
This is a scary thought. It was written in regards to the struggling budgets of many symphony orchestras.
I'd never really thought of the implications of eliminating music programs beyond the great loss it would be for the students and the loss of jobs for the teachers.
But what about the future?
Students today should be the future purchasers of music albums and concert tickets, not to mention patrons of local arts organizations.
Without music education those who should support the future of your local music programs and ensembles (symphony, opera company , and community choruses, bell choirs [tipping my hat for my friend's passion], and bands as well as those on the national scene) will not have the foundation upon which they might be so inclined to dole out a few dollars.
In my music survey courses we talk about how in the 1830s Lowell Mason advocated that music education should be a part of every child's training. We talk about John Knowles Paine who advocated in the late 1800s that college students should have a music appreciation class as part of their general education curriculum.
Perhaps society and education should harken back to these forefathers before the future fathers and mothers miss out on the foundation that nearly everyone who is reading this has been given.
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