The Role Music Could Play in the Lives of our Children

Two stories caught my eye recently: One is an increasingly familiar tale of the lack of music instruction in our schools: Why Are Americans Disappearing from the Classical Music Scene? The other is about the role music COULD play in our lives and the lives of our children, if only those who control the purse strings and make the decisions would listen: A Crescendo in the West Bank Then, while writing this, a third example of music as necessity, rather than luxury, came to my attention: Amid West Bank's Turmoil, the Pull of Strings For many of us, playing in the school band, singing in the school or church choir, hauling our instrument home on the bus, and taking some sort of  lessons were all part of growing up. For our children, music in schools is a hit or miss proposition.  Arts education is easy to cut.  When it happens, there is some outcry, but not enough.  Cut funding for high school football, look out! Why, football teaches teamwork, builds character, boys NEED football. I agree; participating in sports provides all that and more. I played baseball and wrestled in school, and it taught me much.  However, I invite you to take a moment to learn of the role music plays in the life of Dalia Moukarker, who lives in the West Bank. Standing idly by while government and school officials slash funding for the arts in our country is no longer an option.