Music Education is Essential

August 6, 2020

The League joined more than fifty national organizations issuing the statement, Arts Education Is Essential (PDF), which succinctly reminds school administrators and the public that — especially in the context of COVID-19 — arts education contributes to the social and emotional well-being of students, encourages student expression, and is essential to a well-rounded education for all students. These are among the highest priorities for schools, and the delivery of high-quality arts instruction is not only possible, but it is a necessary part of the school experience in-school and online. As public funding for education becomes increasingly imperiled amid the coronavirus pandemic, music education advocates should speak up in both short and longer-term budget discussions taking place at the local and state levels. Be sure to utilize the League’s collection of resources to support advocacy for school-based music education and take note that National Arts in Education Week will be celebrated this year from September 13 through 19. This will be a great opportunity to join others in bringing visibility to the importance of music education, using the hashtags #AIEWeek and #artsed.