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People You Should Know: Laurie Lock–Music and Arts Education Advocate
A tribute is in order, I strongly believe, because I know few people who have been such fierce, honest, and strategic advocates for music and arts education as is Laurie Lock. You see, Laurie, after 11 years of directing programs and policy at VH1 Save The Music Foundation, is stepping down to care for her…
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A Shot To The Foot: How The Arts Ed Field Can Be Its Own Worst Enemy
I have been meaning to write about this these two horribly disappointing Opininator posts in The New York Times: Beyond Baby Mozart, Students Who Rock, by David Bornstein Rock is Not The Enemy, by David Bornstein For about as long as I have been in this field, which is longer than I would now like…
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I Hate to Be Out of Step: Have the Dividing Lines Among Musical Genres Disappeared?
I have had many a conversation about how the dividing lines among musical genres (and other arts disciplines) were “breaking down or blurring.” So, as I was watching this video about a really swell festival taking place next month, “Sonic: Sounds of a New Century” by The American Composers Orchestra, I was quite struck by John…
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Batuta — Columbia’s El Sistema. An Essay by Eric Booth and Tricia Tunstall
As I write, I am staring out the window on the 7:00 Acela heading to DC from New York Penn Station. I have a board meeting of Common Core, for which I am board treasurer. What was a sunny day in New York, has turned into a deep fog. The train moves through the fog…
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I Support Choice–Choice in Opinions About Schools!
Well, it’s already late day Wednesday, and I am a bit behind in posting my blog entries this week. That’s what happens, I suppose, when you’re a blogger with a board meeting (yesterday). Even with my board meeting over, I’ve been slammed with meetings. That being said, I am very happy to support choice when…
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You Can’t Even Give Music Education Away for Free: PS24 in The Bronx
Okay, I hear you in advance: it’s one single example. But let’s look a bit more deeply at it, shall we? Take a good gander at this article from a local newspaper. Why would a principal turn a program away, when it’s being provided for free, is being embraced by other schools in the area,…
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Juillard Makes Cuts to MAP Program
In today’s New York Times there is an article about cuts Juilliard is making to it’s Musical Advancement Program (MAP), which serves low income students. The article also mentions cutbacks made to the Academy program, but doesn’t provide details. This news comes on the heels of the Curtis Institute announcing a new facility. It’s a…