Music For Students’ Sake CHANGING OUR VIEW ON MUSIC ADVOCACY IN TODAY’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Approaches to music in schools UTILITARIAN APPROACH Development of moral character Improved health Development of intellectual discipline Music for worship AESTHETIC APPROACH Music for its own sake Preservation of music as an art form Teaching students to love music

The Aesthetic Approach is Obsolete Aesthetics are an integral part of the music listening experience The listening experience changes with advancing education What was once totally aesthetic becomes part-aesthetic and part-intellectual. Combining intelligences with aesthetics informs the whole experience.

Music in Public Schools MUSIC IS IN SCHOOLS FOR ITS OWN SAKE By making this case, you're saying “music needs us;” not “we need music.” MUSIC IS IN SCHOOLS FOR THE STUDENTS’ BENEFIT Public schools are for children; not the subjects. Adam Kruse: “it is about music, it's not about sound.”

Students, Music, and Public Schools Students Will always enjoy music Will always listen to music Will always be emotional Some will seek extra- curricular music activities with or without their teacher Enjoy social experiences Enjoy working toward a common goal Music Will always exist Will always be important and personal to every person Can elicit emotional responses and connections Can be an enjoyable and challenging social experience Is a cultural phenomenon Public Schools Music programs allow for students to make social connections and develop meaningful skills Music programs can be a key part of the school/greater community Music programs can be important to children Note: Preserving the art of classical music should/can be a part of the curriculum but should not be the ultimate goal.

Avon Electric Orchestra