Arts Education and Youth

My formal music education began in my elementary school when I was eight years old. Yes, you read that correctly, elementary school, grade three to be exact.  We were required to sing in choir as well as learn the basics of music theory, the staff, notation, solfege (if you are unfamiliar with these terms). From choir, we transitioned into learning the recorder for two years so by grade six, we could choose what instrument we would play in the school band.  I began with the clarinet, but a family move meant switching schools, and I was able to obtain my first choice, the alto saxophone.  I had always loved listening to and watching jazz saxophonists play their sexy melissmatic, improvisations.  Now I could learn how to be just as sexy.  Well, needless to say, sexy is not what came of my threes on the alto sax.  I quickly learned that the responsibility that comes with being a great musician does not come easily. I learned I did not love playing the saxophone, but learned to love and appreciate the art, the craft, and the goals of music.   The voice was and still is my instrument of choice, and having struggled to grow in musicianship as a singer, I am ever grateful for those mandatory music classes, and the phenomenal teachers who lovingly laid a foundation that I walk on to this day.

There are countless stories from other artists and musicians, like the one I just recounted of how childhood exposure to art forms has a profound impact on arts appreciation as adults.  I remember hearing how government cutbacks on education meant the end of arts programs across school boards.  They meant computers for typing English papers, at the expense of writing skills.  They meant keeping teachers of math and sciences without out even considering that the arts could make the concepts in math an science easier to comprehend for those many in our population who are visual, auditory and even kinetic learners.  So now I look back at that time in between then and now through the eyes of a parent and I am outraged that my children will likely be deprived of the artistic experiences I had growing up just because they are at school. 

I often read many artists, established and up and coming, but all sincere, lamenting the death of our respective disciplines.  In music, some of the usual suspects often belong to the Hip Hop, Opera, Jazz or Punk worlds.  Those essences of these styles are homogenized amid the distracting of blips and bops of digital pop and “reality” media.  On the other hand, there had never been so many ways to build and reach an audience. So, how can we subvert the former and optimize the latter? 

Of late, I have discovered the music of fusion band Snarky Puppy and their collaboration with various artists to promote the band’s latest music, but also to call attention the work of The Music Lab at Jefferson Center a non-profit arts organization that is working toward revitalization of an underserved Roanoke Virginia neighbourhood.  The clip below shows an amazing performance featuring two young students of the music program 12 year old Jayna Brown and 15 year old Gabriel Morales. Their talents show that great artistry will break through every boundary be it age, ethnicity, socio-economic status and the Internet has virtually eliminated geographic limitations.

If we want diversity in the arts to flourish, we have to create inroads to reach youth and carry them into adulthood on the wings of art and creativity. For some, the economic situation may make it difficult to afford piano lessons, or drawing classes, but I encourage you to explore art and music through books, the Internet, public art works, or showcases.  Even if you aren’t especially interested at first, let it be an adventure for you and child to make a new discovery together.  Just be open. Personally, I can think of many ideas for solutions, but they cost money, so I encourage those with copious amounts looking for initiatives to support to look into your local community leaders and arts organizations, find out their big dream and fund it.  It is our jobs as citizens to advance our culture through preservation, through education and then innovation.  Too many want to innovate without understanding.  The more artists begin to require more of our audience and ourselves, we will all rise to the occasion.