The "self-esteem movement" in this country is coming to an end. We have learned that giving a trophy to all kids just for participating hasn't worked, and -- even worse -- has undermined the natural grit that our nation is built upon. We are also … [Continue reading]
As sure as the sun rises and sets, every few years our government rolls out a new brand of education reform. Some legislation is epic (NCLB, anyone?); other laws "chip away" at our education system in small chunks. The Every Student Succeeds Act … [Continue reading]
While there are some middle schools in our nation where the arts are a well-established cornerstone of curricula, there are far too many schools that provide little or no offerings. Although there are many challenges and constraints that can affect … [Continue reading]
For the first time ever, music is now cited in federal statute as a stand-alone subject in schools. The timing could not be better. After all, provision for the arts in school curricula should be a no-brainer requirement of a well-rounded … [Continue reading]
As a public school music supervisor, I saw firsthand the shift in our education system toward an emphasis on "constant student engagement" in the classroom. To this day, there still is this push to keep students busy from the moment class begins to … [Continue reading]
We are a few months into a new school year. Has your child had a performance yet? When students open their instrument case for the first time, they are excited to begin their musical journey. They also want to become good at playing their … [Continue reading]
I believe we are sitting on the precipice of whole school reform in our country. Standardized testing has hit a tipping point; schools are still far behind when it comes to teaching critical twenty-first century skills; and there is a growing … [Continue reading]
This is a guest post from Leanne Sowul. Leanne is a music teacher and writer from the Hudson Valley, NY. You can find more of her writing at Words From The Sowul. For the past thirteen years, I’ve worked in a public school district nationally … [Continue reading]
If we take a moment to look at school music programs around our nation, we may be inclined to believe that music instrument instruction is a luxury reserved for a select few. We may also be holding on to an archaic belief that only a small … [Continue reading]
"Our Public Schools will provide an excellent education that prepares our students for college and to earn high paying jobs." I came across this (very real) school mission statement recently. While it is, in my opinion, egregiously … [Continue reading]
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