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Credit: Flickr; US Dept. of Education
Music ed pays off across curriculum, justifying costs
Shawna De La Rosa
Jan. 8, 2020
Dive Brief:
Districts with high percentages of low-income students are finding ways
to fund music education, District Administration reports, noting that
of the 623 districts that received the “Best Communities for Music
Education” award, 180 have 50% of students qualifying for free- or
reduced-price lunch.
In some districts, educators use the award to urge voters to pass bonds
for music education and encourage school boards to fund the programs.
In Juneau, Alaska, one such program called Juneau Alaska Music Matters
provides violin instruction to kindergartners and 1st-graders.
Similarly, at Roosevelt Elementary School in San Gabriel United School
District in California, every student is enrolled in the Music
Immersion Experience program, which teaches them to play violin
starting in 1st grade. Students can switch to a different in 4th grade.
Dive Insight:
Music education can be a costly endeavor for districts — especially
band, where expensive instruments are required supplies. For districts
that find ways to fund it, the cost may pay off in the long run.
According to research by the National Association of Music Merchants
Foundation, schools that offer music programs have a 90.2% graduation
rate and a 93.3% attendance rate. Those numbers compare to a graduation
rate of 72.9% and 84.9% attendance rate in schools that don’t offer
music.
Salt Lake City School District is among districts keeping music and
arts programs strong despite the pressure of high-stakes testing
accountability. Recently, the district developed a five-year plan to
implement an orchestra by introducing students to band in the 4th, 5th
and 6th grades.
The New England Board of Higher Education outlines six benefits of
music education, including enhancing both vocabulary and reading
comprehension. Evidence suggests musical ability and language
comprehension are controlled by the same part of the brain. The board
also suggests music education improves memory, strengthens hand-eye
coordination, improves study habits and fosters teamwork.
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