Music: A Key To Learning

Music: A Key To Learning; Source: (AP) The Shelby Daily Globe, Shelby, Ohio - June 15, 2000
: WASHINGTON (Associated Press); Three in four U.S. adults think states should require a daily; dose of music education in the nation's classrooms, says a; Gallup Poll released Wednesday amid a broad, star-powered; campaign for more interest, funding, and respect for the; discipline.; "It's essential that we continue this way of thinking as we; try to reform education in this country," Connie Britton, an; actress who appears in the ABC television series "Spin City,"; told an audience of students, teachers, and lawmakers; Wednesday.; Her visit came a day after the show's star Michael J. Fox; asked Congress to boost research funds for Parkinson's; disease, the progressive brain disorder he was diagnosed; with in 1991.; Music education advocates nationwide released studies; bolstering their support for music classes and proof that such; lessons help children learn -- and therefore deserves as; much time in a student's day as math or science.; Music educators named school districts in Coppell, Texas,; and Farmington, Mich., as the nation's top providers of; music education. And the groups -- which included the; National Association for Music Education -- commissioned; a poll of more than 1,500 adults on the topic, a follow-up to; one three years ago.; In the 1997 poll, 69 percent of respondents said school music; activities produce better grades and test scores; this year, 81; percent of adults believed music would help children; achieve.; Also, this year 93 percent of adults said music instruction; should be part of every child's education; 78 percent said states
should mandate that instruction.; Several speakers Wednesday urged congressional lawmakers; considering the education budget to increase federal money; for music and other arts programs.; "I urge members of the Senate to listen to the music and the; message of those gathered here," Education Secretary; Richard Riley said, referring to the Senate Appropriations; Committee that is debating the $340 billion in education,; labor and health spending being considered for fiscal 2001,; which begins Oct. 1.; Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., promised arts advocates he would; fight to increase such funding in the House version of the; spending bill.; Keegan Younsman-Via, a 13-year-old seventh grader from; Portland, Ore., said arts education grants at his school; helped support a production of a Thornton Wilder classic:; "I got the lead role in 'Our Town' this year. I'm hoping to
excel as an actor."; On Wednesday, New American Schools, a non-profit group; based in Arlington, Va., announced that arts learning would; become a key part of its curriculum offering to schools. The; programs are funded by federal grants for schools to try; innovative education methods.; The new partnership with the Grammy Foundation's; Leonard Berenstein Center would give schools nationwide; lessons that combine music, drama, and other arts with; traditional subjects like reading and science.; "There is a saying: 'A child goes to school a question mark
and comes out as a period.,'" Riley said. "Thanks to the work
of people here today, we may have a new saying for many and
future generations: 'A child goes into school as a scale in
C major and comes out as a symphony.'"