OT: How often is music taught where you live?

[udp]

With current economic times, school's around here (Michigan), are deciding what to cut. Inevitably, one of the first programs discussed is music. Recent research, however, suggests that music study helps brain development, so this means that schools are hurting student achievement by cutting music. I've always maintained that one of the reasons that European and Asian students do well in Math and Science is their early exposure to music in their schools. Is this true? How often is music taught to primary students where you live?

[weeddigger]

I remember elementary school in the 80's and early 90's, they had music class either every day or two or three times a week.

The High School I went to only had music as electives. Not required, and not many people took it, including me!

[ct43]

music in most schools over here is pretty boring... they get the casio keyboards out

they should teach em some decent music tech in schools and let the kids have fun... but from my experince they just wanna teach em piano and music theory... cool if your into it but they should have the option of Reason / Live etc as well...

and I agree about it developing kids as well.. ive seen that happen and its inspiring stuff.

[Atomikat]

Here, the music at school is more "history" oriented, but we still have those Dj academies where you can learn music theory,production,etc. I'm a teacher for the EAS (School of Audio and Sound, in spanish)...I teach how to use Ableton Live,Reason, Live improvisation, some music theory.

[gjm]

Here in NZ each primary school has the power to decide the extent its own music program. There usually is some music immersion as a whole class, but its low on the totem pole. I teach music privately, full time. I am split 60/40 between a primary school and my home studio. The work at the school is as a private contractor. The school provides whole class oriented music, choirs, group work. I provide individual lessons for guitar, keyboard and drums. (BTW, I am pissed that I don't qualify for Edu Discounts, our school systems work differently from other countries models...grrrrr!!). I am run off my feet!. I am fully booked through the end of April, was fully booked all last year, and have had a constant waiting list for 14 months. If I could clone myself I could double my work load. We have a recession here, but it is not hurting my client base. In general its not hurting education either. We are crying out for teachers at all school levels. We are importing them at the moment because we can't find enough locally.

Most of the time I can spot the kids who have learning difficulties. The kids who have well developed fine and gross motor skills are good students. They also pick up music and the rhythmic aspect quickly. Every time I see a kid who struggles to keep their body in time, I will always find an area of academics where their teacher says they struggle. The really bad ones are often dyslexic or autistic. I work a lot with these types of kids. This Monday I start working with a fairly severe autistic boy and the drums. His parents are doing this purely as a brain stimulation exercise. I am 100% convinced that thinking about making music and getting your body to move to music has a significant impact on the way the brain works. In general, the more you can do it, even as adults, the more helpful to a persons brain. Brain exercise. Kids and the processes of making music should have a high priority in schools IMO.

[udp]

Since is music education is at risk here in Michigan, I think this is important enough for a....... Bump.