Mike Huckabee’s New Book:
Former Governor and Presidential candidate (and current bass player) has come out with his new book on the past campaign with the title Do the Right Thing: Inside the Movement That's Bringing Common Sense Back to America. In a conference call today with bloggers who covered his campaign this past year Governor Huckabee outlined his […]
Should Kids Be Able to Graduate After 10th Grade?
This the intriguing question asked by this Time Magazine article. It looks at a proposal coming out of New Hampshire where there have been significant changes made to the educational structure. Time and Place have been replaced by knowledge and competency. It is no longer about how much time you sit in a class or […]
Add the UK to the “What Do They Know That We Don’t” List
Ah yes… another day… another nation – NOT THE UNITED STATES – announces a major investment in music/arts education. Music changes lives – and saves them Can music really play a part in reducing knife crime, drug addiction and all the rest of society's ills, asks Julian Lloyd Webber? Yes, it can, and politicians are […]
An Obama Presidency
On this blog I have commented and shared insights regarding Barack Obama's words and plans for music and arts education as well as education in general. While I am working on my article about the opportunties created for education and the arts by an Obama Presidency I want to point to a few items that […]
Spellings Speaks… No One Cares!
Current and soon to be departing Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, who has singularly contributed to the stress on the public education system… first as Senior Advisory to the President and more recently as Secretary… answered some questions of students. One specifically addressed music and arts education: Why do you think art and music programs […]
Rhode Island: The Canary in the Coal Mine?
Every time there is an economic down turn or some other event that could threaten music and arts education programs I often search for a sign, an article, a report that would provide some clues as to what may actually happen. Now we are faced with not one… but two shifts of the techtonic plates […]
Uh Oh… California!
In 2006 we worked as part of a group to push music and arts education funding through the California Legislature in support of Governor Schwarzeneggerr's proposal. The effort let to $500 million in one time funding and a $100 million annual commitment to help restore programs (an additional $300 million to date). This has been […]
Wii Music
Last week Nintendo launched Wii Music as part of their effort to bring game technolgy to a broader audience. Guitar Hero World Tour this is not. If you are looking for a game to mash buttons and do rhythmic gymnastics… this product is not for you. However, if you want to see how gaming is […]
A Musical Utopia?
What would you say if I told you there was a place on this earth… – Where children 4 months old start with music classes with parents; – Where music education at various institutions provides tutoring to infant music groups; – Where three and four year olds attend music class once or twice a week; […]
The “Have Nots'” vs. the “Have Mores’?
The New York Times reported on expanding opportunities and corse offerings at a small selection of High Schools in the area… making the case that schools that meet NCLB actually have the chance to provide more to students. While I understand the point they are trying to make, I am not sure you can draw […]
