Why the Arts are important in Education

I went to a concert last week.  It got me thinking about the importance of a strong arts programs in education. I haven't worn my music teacher hat much over the last couple of years but I put it back on for a few minutes.  The way I see it the view from under that hat isn't much different than the view from under an administrator hat.

Why did I become a music teacher?  Because I like music?  Yes.  There is more to it than that though.  Music and arts classes help students learn not only theory but also skills that are necessary for success in life.  Arts classes challenge kids to think, to analyze, and to solve problems.   Students are constantly challenged to improve.  They are forced to Reflect, Rethink, and Revise (UbD anyone?) on a continual basis.  These are the skills that are going to help students build successful careers outside of the school system.  

This chart from http://www.skillscommission.org/executive.htm provides a visual break down of projected jobs in the global job market over the next several year.  What jobs are in the US?  Creative Work.  Routine Work, the kind that requires memorization of facts and repetition, the kind that fits nicely with the Industrial Model of education that is still so common in our schools, is being outsourced.  Yet in the United States the first programs to get cut under budget crunches are arts programs!

There are lots of things I could talk about but I will try to keep it short.  My favorite thing about teaching music was that it allowed me to teach EVERYTHING.  Music and the arts have been part of nearly everything that has happened in the world.  The cross-curricular possibilities are innumerable.  The arts are a mirror for what happens socially, culturally, and politically in the world.  They  evolve and change with the times.  They provide connections among disciples.  The arts help reach students through a variety of learning styles, envelope students effortlessly through Project-Based-Learning and revolve around Analysis, Evaluation, and Creation (all of which are found at the TOP of Bloom's Taxonomy).

Not so long ago, Tim McDowell posted this video on Forest Traveling Teacher.  This is one of my all time favorite TED videos.  Schools are killing creativity.  What are we going to do it about it?  Are we happy with the arts programs in our districts?  Are you content with the time your son or daughter is spending in an arts program?  Is the arts program at your school meeting the needs of your child?

 

A great example of why the arts are important in education:  Jack Stamp gave this speech at a band festival a few years ago.  I was fortunate to be in the audience and even more fortunate to have a student on the stage.  Why does music matter?  Why do the arts matter?   More importantly, what are we going to do about it?