The picture is becoming clearer and clearer. As music programs are cut in our schools, interest in music diminishes for the whole population. And since music and arts education has now been under (successful) attack for about 40 years, it should be no wonder that there is trouble all along the continuum, from earliest childhood thru advanced age. The cumulative effects of this phenomenon are plain to see. I should say it's plain to hear, but I can't, and that's the point: for many, accomplished musical expression is increasing difficult to hear. Children aren't encouraged to sing; youngsters are not offered instrumental instruction; radio stations program only the latest noise. Orchestras cut seasons and water down programs, and then fold. The individuals and organizations who insist on being exceptions to this new 'rule' find increasing difficulty in finding instrumental repair, printed music, places to play, funding, etc. As a profession, music never has been a bowl of cherries, but now....
The answers to the problem seem to lie in repairing and rebuilding public school music and art. All factors taken into account, this is a tough, tough challenge. Do we see it being faced by our political leaders? No. They are unfortunately a manifestation of our nation's (and the world's) educational collapse.
This is (more) serious
than other diatribes that have appeared on this page. Comments welcome . don@trillmusic.com
This page was last updated on 01/23/2012
