Editorial: Following Mary’s Lead

“Can anything elevate a middle school kid more than the experience of high quality music education?” asks the 2015 recipient of the Don Johnson Industry Service Award, Mary Luehrsen, in this month’s cover story, when talking about her own experiences as a junior high student musician. “It is priceless – now, we just have to convince every school administrator and school board member that high quality music education is vital for every child and that options for music education expand to reach every child.”

While innumerable studies and surveys demonstrate widespread support for music and arts education in virtually all American communities (a recent Gallop poll indicated 94 percent of participants believe music is part of a well-rounded education, and that schools should offer instrument music education as part of he regular curriculum. Additionally 85 percent believe participation in school music corresponds with better grades and higher test scores), the challenges to achieving such goals remain as strong as ever. A report from May of 2014 by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities revealed that “most” states are still funding school less than before the recent recession. According to the data, “At least 35 states are providing less funding per student for the 2013-14 school year than they did before the recession hit. Fourteen of these states have cut per-student funding by more than 10 percent.”

And what academic areas are typically at or near the top of the list when it comes to enacting cuts? You guessed it: Arts & Music.

But there are bright spots in this struggle, to be sure. In addition to private funds and patrons of the arts stepping up in many areas across the country to pick up the slack created by dwindling state and federal resources, many towns and communities are taking the matter into their own hands, following the lead – and making use of the tools provided by – advocacy organizations headed by the likes of Mary Luehrsen in order to ensure that music remains a key part of education in their cities and towns.

And MI retailers and suppliers can (and should) play a key role – there’s no time like the present to become part of the solution.

“I imagine a time when every NAMM member has an annual plan for advocacy that involves their own professional development, their staff’s management, and participation in advocacy by leading or participating in state and local networks,” says Luehrsen. “Just think how many more kids we could pull into making music? That’s the goal of advocacy.”