"During
the Gulf War, the few opportunities I had for relaxation I always listened
to music, and it brought me great peace of mind. I have shared my love of
music with people throughout this world, while listening to the drums and
special instruments of the Far East, Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean,
and the Far North, and all of this started with the music appreciation course
that I was taught in a third-grade elementary class in Princeton, New Jersey.
What a tragedy it would be if we lived in a world where music was not taught
to children."
- General H. Norman Schwarzkopf - United States Army
"Music
is exciting. It is thrilling to be sitting in a group of musicians playing
(more or less) the same piece of music. You are part of a great, powerful,
vibrant entity. And nothing beats the feeling you get when you've practiced
a difficult section over and over and finally get it right, (yes even on
the wood block.) Music is important. It says things your heart can't say
any other way, and in a language everyone speaks. Music crosses borders,
turns smiles into frowns, and vice versa. These observations are shared
with a hope: that, when schools cut back on music classes, they really think
about what they're doing - and don't take music for granted."
- Dan Rather - CBS News
"In every
successful business...there is one budget line that never gets cut. It's
called 'Product Development' - and it's the key to any company's future
growth. Music education is critical to the product development of this nation's
most important resource - our children."
- John Sykes - President, VHI
"The
things I learned from my experience in music in school are discipline, perseverance,
dependability, composure, courage and pride in results...Not a bad preparation
for the workforce!"
- Gregory Anrig - President, Educational Testing Service
"Music
is an essential part of everything we do. Like puppetry, music has an abstract
quality which speaks to a worldwide audience in a wonderful way that nourishes
the soul.
- Jim Henson - television producer and puppeteer
"Should
we not be putting all our emphasis on reading, writing and math? The 'back-to-basics
curricula,' while it has merit, ignores the most urgent void in our present
system - absence of self-discipline. The arts, inspiring - indeed requiring
- self-discipline, may be more 'basic' to our nation survival than traditional
credit courses. Presently, we are spending 29 ties more on science than
on the arts, and the result so far is worldwide intellectual embarrassment."
- Paul Harvey - syndicated radio show host
"It's
[music education] terribly important, extremely important -- because when
you are a child, you are in a receptive age...In high schools, public schools--that's
where they must have the best influence, the first influence, which will
go through their whole life."
- Eugene Ormandy - conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra
"It
is our job, as parents, educators, and friends, to see that our young people
have the opportunity to attain the thorough education that will prepare
them for the future. Much of that education takes place in the classroom.
We must encourage our youngsters in such pursuits as music education. In
addition to learning the valuable lesson that it takes hard work to achieve
success, no matter what the arena, music education can provide students
with a strong sense of determination, improved communication skills, and
a host of other qualities essential for successful living."
- Edward H.
Rensi - President and Chief Operation Officer, U.S.A. McDonald's Corporation.
"A grounding
in the arts will help our children to see; to bring a uniquely human perspective
to science and technology. In short, it will help them as they grow smarter
to also grow wiser."
- Robert
E. Allen - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AT & T Corporation