Why we Need More Art And Music Classes

Schools across America are cutting Fine Arts programs left and right due to budget cuts and reduced funding, which is preventing students the ability to have an equally standardized arts education. About 95% of schools in America have eliminated or reduced their fine arts program’s funding. According to a report released by the PCCY only 149 out of the 268 public schools in Philadelphia have a choral teacher and 59% of them have an art teacher (Davis). These schools that lack fine arts teachers have felt the need to reduce faculty in order to pay for other expenses. This prevents students from receiving the benefits associated with a fine arts education. In addition, two out of every ten schools don’t have a choral or an art teacher (Davis).

According to a study by the Arts Education Partnership, students exposed to music are often more adept at reading, writing, and math ("10 Salient"). Arts education also seems to have a positive effect on students’ standardized test scores. For instance, students’ average verbal and math SAT scores revealed a correlation between higher test scores and more years of arts education received (Ruppert 9). Additionally, a study of Missouri Public Schools found that schools with higher-quality arts programs experienced fewer disciplinary infractions and had higher attendance and graduation rates ("10 Salient"). It is theorized that music and art classes encourage students, especially at-risk youth, to stay in school by cultivating closer relationships with peers and creating “community-oriented environments”

First, fine arts classes improve students’ learning abilities. Students that take part in music, drama, and art classes are often more proficient in their other classes. Evidence also suggests that students who participate in fine arts classes are less likely to drop out of school. The fine arts often require a higher level of thinking and require its students to look at situations and objects from all sorts of angles. A common argument against requiring fine arts classes is that they

“Students who study art are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and 3 times more likely to be awarded for school attendance” ("11 Facts about Arts in Education"). Music and art are clearly not two subjects that schools today can afford to cut off funding for based on this evidence. Music and art programs are responsible for increasing school attendance, which can lead to being one of the most important things in a student’s academic success in school. Students have to attend school and be present in order to attain the information from their classes and teachers if they wish to succeed. Better attendance means more students are in class, which means more students are getting the information they need to excel from their teachers, which ultimately means better grades and test scores for schools. As of today, arts are defined as core subjects in only twenty-six states in America (Mandel). If only twenty-six states are treating art education as a core subject, that means that twenty-four states are currently neglecting art programs and not considering them important to their student’s education. If more states are educated on the importance of art programs for young students, and the arts are defined as core subjects nationally, then there will be a

There are multiple reasons of why the educational system needs an arts and music department. From elementary to high school students an arts education has been beneficial to the

Having arts in school is a way a student express himself or herself in ways they are unable to in any other classroom. It is important for each student to have their own identity and have ways of letting their talents and personalities shine. For some, it may be sports or scholars bowl, for others it is art, music, or theater. “I have several students who don’t care to be on the football field or on the basketball court. These students find their nitch in the practice room, on the stage, or in front of an easel surrounded by paints and brushes. As sports are a release for athletes, music and art are ways to express feelings and emotions. Fine arts has helped many of my students find their identity” (Wildeman). There are many benefits to music education include being disciplined, learning a skill, being part of the music world, managing performance, and being part of something you can be proud

Fine arts should be school sponsored and implemented in the school curriculum. First of all it has tremendous academic benefits. Studies done at the University of California Irvine, or UCI, show when children and teens are exposed to music, preferably classical music (which is a common theme among school bands), they tend to have better memories and they are able to retain information better than students who aren’t exposed to music. Chris Brewer, founder of Lifesounds Educational Services, says that music also helps with focus and attitude, both in school and out. Music, however, isn’t the only art that promotes academic achievement. Choosing to be a part of or even being exposed to the opportunity of arts such as theater, vocal and

Arts and music even benefits younger children. A study was done with Goodlow Elementary Magnet School, Whittier Elementary and Boone Elementary, three elementary schools in Chicago with high ethnic diversity. The study found that 4th graders who started an arts education program had an 11.5% point gain on standardized test scores by the time they started 6th grade just two years later. Just two years. Imagine what the gain would be if these students continued in music for the rest of their

Participating in as few as one or two art courses can help boost a child’s creativity levels. These creativity skills could possibly help the student become a better leader and potentially help him or her attain a higher ranking position in his or her future job than he or she would get without having taken any courses in the arts. The arts also help students communicate with one another. For example, if a student is very introverted and he or she decides to enroll in a speech, debate, or drama class, he or she would have the chance to speak out. This experience of being in front of others while doing what he or she enjoys could help him or her overcome the fear of standing out and shyness he or she deals with on a daily basis. Classes like band, choir, and dance can also help students come out of their shells. By being around a group of students that enjoy doing the same things as them, children can easily find out things they have in common with the others, helping them cope better with being around many people at one time as well as helping them build strong relationships with their

Students who participate in music classes tend to be smarter than students who don't. Studies show that students in gang-ridden neighborhoods who learn to play instruments are more successful in the long run (Edghill). In fact, many music students were heading on to UCLA, Tulane, and other notable universities. They were regularly beating the odds compared to their neighborhood peers (Edghill). Studies show that 73% of CEOs from Fortune 1000 companies were involved in music programs in high school (Ray). There obviously must be some correlation between music and their success in business!

Music and art get you better grades at school and a higher IQ level. For example, “The children who were given music lessons over the school year tested on average three IQ points higher than the other groups”(the benefits of music education). This is saying that a study done states that kids who take music lessons such as the piano get a higher IQ level compared to people who took drama or nothing at all. When an art class is taken by a student at school they lead to lower dropout rates overall and better attendance (Katy Independent School District). This is because to get better grades you need to be in class and if you are there more there is a higher attendance rate. That is one result of both music and art classes (Katy Independent

It seems like every other day the news is reporting that yet another school has cut their fine arts programs. When money gets tight, instead of decreasing the budgets for things like the abundance of sports teams, many school districts have turned their backs to the fine arts, and justified their decisions by stating that the arts do not benefit the students, or that it is more important for the school to focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or STEM, programs. From band and choir to theater and art, courses like these are becoming scarce and students across the country are feeling the impact. Wes Scott, middle and high school band director at Orchard Farm School District in Saint Charles, Missouri, says, “The fine arts are

Why would they help? They would help because in recent studies, “The following conclusions are clear and unambiguous findings from the body of research on arts-academic achievement. The clearest findings were related to the impact of music and drama — on math and reading, respectively.” This is saying the the arts students learn and the core subjects are just as important. Teachers only want their students to enjoy what they are learning and that they understand, right? As do principals, Superintendents, The parents ,and the students. I saw sculpture and claymations when I was little and immediately was fascinated . I found how interesting the people who made these were artists and so I got into art. From then on that was wanted I wanted to pursue when I was older. But at school art disapointed me, we didn’t do the cool things in art. And I wanted to change that. There is no better way then adding more electives that benefit the students and their

Most people would agree that music and art programs in schools have a huge impact on students not only academically, but in just about every aspect of their lives. Studies have shown that students who are involved in music and art programs have an overall higher IQ and show signs of many other academic benefits. Participating in such programs also allow students the opportunity to express themselves artistically and show the world their perhaps otherwise hidden potential. We all know how fun it can be to show the world your unexpected abilities, and what better way to show those off than the place where we spend most of our day-to-day lives? Unfortunately, even with all these obvious benefits, when the school budget is short, the first

In recent years, the debate of art programs in schools have become more prominent. Many people argue that developing the arts is not only a waste of time, but money. However, the arts programs are more than just painting for an hour at school. Programs like band, drama, and art have been neglected in public schools for too long, they can represent schools just as well as any sport, and they have the ability to create a better-rounded and safer society.