Save Fulton Music Programs

The Fulton County School System (FCSS) is considering the elimination of elementary school music programs (orchestra, band, chorus). Here are just a few reasons why they shouldn't:

• Surveys demonstrate that early exposure to music can enhance abilities in areas from reading readiness to math proficiency. (Gardiner, Fox, Jeffrey, & Knowles (Brown University), as reported in Nature, May 23, 1996)
  

• Recent studies indicate that music education dramatically improves a child's ability to solve complex math and science problems. (Shaw, Rauscher, Levine, Wright, Dennis, & Newcomb (University of California-Irvine), “Music Training Causes Long-Term Enhancement of Preschool Children’ Spatial-Temporal Reasoning,”Neurological Research, Vol. 19, February 1997)
  

• Students who participate in music programs score significantly higher on standardized tests, scoring 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the SAT and 41 points higher on the math portion than other students. Scores for those with coursework in music appreciation were 63 points higher on the verbal and 44 points higher on the math. (College-Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers, Princeton New Jersey: The College Entrance Examination Board, 2001)
  

• Students receiving music education are also less likely to be involved in gangs, drugs or alcohol abuse, and have better attendance in school. (Research by Kevin Thompson, North Dakota State University, cited in Congressional Resolution 380, May 5, 2004)
  

• Music participants, on average, receive more academic honors and higher grades than do students in the general population. (National Educational Longitudinal Study, First Follow-Up, Washington, D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics, 1990)
  

• Music encourages creativity, imagination, and emotional response. These areas are important for success throughout life. (Norman Weinberger, “Creating Creativity with Music,”Musical Research Notes, Vol. 2, Sep. 1998)

• Arts education develops collaborative and teamwork skills, technological competencies, flexible thinking, and an appreciation for diversity. (“Educating for the Workplace through the Arts,”Business Week, October 28, 1996.)