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The Sound of Silence
Notable Quotes
"The findings from the ‘The Sound of Silence’ report relating to the state of music education in California public schools are both dramatic and disturbing. Together in concert with music industry artists and professionals, education experts, and policy makers and politicians alike, we must charter an open dialogue in order to ensure that schools are provided with the resources to include music in our state’s educational curriculum."
"Given our unique place within the music and entertainment industries, the Recording Academy is at the fulcrum between commerce and creativity on a daily basis. This position, coupled with our educational mission, reinforces our organization’s support of this urgent issue. Thus, it is imperative that we all work toward the same goal: a California educational system that supports music and arts education for our public schools. Failure to act now will have disastrous consequences not only to our students, but to our industry, the state’s economy, and the global economy as well -- to say nothing of the emotional void we'd all experience
- Recording Academy President Neil Portnow
“We believe the picture painted by this actual data from the California Department of Education will become a wake-up call to policymakers, organizations, agencies, teachers, parents, students, business leaders, and all of those who are concerned about the quality of education provided to our children to take steps now to reverse this trend before it is too late.”
- Music for All Foundation Chairman Robert B.Morrison.
“For many people from my generation to today’s generation of parents, music was a basic part of our own education. In California, this is not the case anymore, It is unfortunate that in this great state, over half a million children will not have experienced the joys of learning and sharing music in public school classrooms. It is clear from the data reported in this document ‘The Sound of Silence’ that the years of cutting back programs, pink slipping music teachers, and eventually eliminating music teaching jobs in this state has taken its toll. Now is the time to act and move to reverse this downward trend.”
- CMEA President Dr. Robert Klevan.
“Everyone knows that California schools are suffering under dire financial strain, but the decline in music instruction is dramatically worse than in any other academic discipline. We want to help the our policymakers understand why the arts and music education are essential to workforce development in California. The fact is that active participation in music is vital to kids’ success, and California kids are losing out on an opportunity they’ll never get back.”
- American Music Conference Associate Executive Director Laura Johnson
“I would be devastated if my son could not have music as part of his curriculum in school. It should not be a choice between culture and technical training—well-rounded students and graduates will make appropriate choices for their careers, but they must also be trained to make appropriate social choices. Music and art introduce them to a world larger than a classroom or a factory. In California, of all places, entertainment is the key to a vibrant economy. If we do not develop young adults capable of entering that world, the financial base of this state is sure to suffer and impact all of us.”
- Singer David Cassidy
“It truly concerns me that after countless data and research gathered over the years regarding the importance and need for music and the arts in schools, we still have to fight to keep it in. I have devoted my life to helping abused children learn to cope with the victimization caused by their abusers, through alternative methods of music and art therapy to help them heal,. In 1999, UCLA did a study and it was proven that music and the arts increased their retention, social, and mathematical skills by 40 percent. Not to mention, it taps into the very spirit of each child. So please, for God's sake, save the music education program, and save the very life of a child! In the end, their development to be a productive member of society will be secured.”
- Recording artist Sheila E
“Sticking with the choir and band was an escape from hanging out with gang members and smoking marijuana,” says another Washington Prep graduate, Nichol Luebrun. “But the band and choir gave me more than just something to do. They changed my life. They instilled in me a love of music. They taught me discipline, perseverance, leadership, and boldness. I am proud to say that this past year I became the first person in my family to graduate from high school and attend college.”
- Former Washington Preparatory High School Student Lorenzo Johnson
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