Musings on Music Advocacy

A lot of artists are making a big deal about the cutting of arts programs in public schools. Music is an important part of education: until recent history, a person was not considered fully educated if he had no musical knowledge. I believe that the arts are very important, but also that if the arts and art (including music) education are really important to us, as artists, we’ll find a way to educate students whether the government pays us for it or not. One way is called volunteering. It doesn’t have to be some huge project, or a project that requires you to quit your job and only volunteer. We must invest in our future; it is our responsibility much more than the government’s. It’s more important for us, as musicians, to apply ourselves to educating these students than just making a lot of noise about the importance of it. Maybe the results would prove the point and we wouldn’t end up wasting a lot of air to a lot of career-driven, self-interested people who don’t care. If we don’t roll up our tux sleeves and serve others, a lack of action reflects the idea that we don’t truly care about the arts in schools.
But, there are so many other ways to be involved in music other than in school! How awesome would it be if families participated in music together?! Not necessarily formally, but singing and playing around a piano or keyboard….or even a keytar (etc…you get the point). Or singing together in the car. Or some other form of music-making. Then their friends could get involved, take it home, invite their friends, and it would just expand and expand. Not everyone is meant to be in band. If you like band, that’s cool. But if you aren’t the concert band type, you can still enjoy music and become a productive citizen of the music world. It seems like too many musicians have a very narrow view of music (and I don’t mean that I’m excluded from being guilty of this). John Cage had a really cool idea of music. He viewed everything as music. What an appreciation of all that God has created and all that He allows us to be hear! (even the resulting sounds of manmade items such as cars)
All that being said (err….typed), it’s our responsibility to make a difference. If the arts are truly important to you, show it…don’t just say it. Or as my late grandfather might have said, don’t just “flap your jaws.” :)

Here is a snippet of John Cage...I find him quite intriguing lately.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGrhL49-YQw&feature=related