Social researcher Hugh MacKay said "What better way of fostering a sense of community and reducing the pressures of a competitive, materialistic society than encouraging widespread participation in the arts."

Music stimulates the mind, body and spirit as almost no other activity can. Music builds social capital and enriches entire communities.

Yet, despite worldwide research showing the benefits of being musically active, most Americans are not music makers. We are generally cultured to be spectators of competitive and generally aggressive sports of one kind of another, mostly because that's where the media money is.

Our archaic public school system and the media moguls have let our kids down by not making music and the arts a priority and integral part of academic studies. The unfortunate usual choice is to be a jock or a band geek, because once the choice is made, the demands on the student's time is so great, there is no time or energy left for a balance of competitive and creative studies. Apart from that, the demands for quantity of academic material forces undue and unreasonable homework on students.

So, who is dictating the quality of your child's educational life, the bureaucrats of the school industry, the principle, the teachers, or you, the parents? Demand that music and the arts be a key part or your child's educational program, or find another program, like at your local music store or independent study school program.

Musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning. Studies have shown that students who study the arts and music are more successful on standardized tests, such as SAT, and display more empathy and understanding toward other people.

Brian W. Cole

Lompoc