Recruitment, Recruitment, Recruitment!

It's recruitment time (as if you couldn't tell from the post title?). Most of my classes had about fourteen (from each school) signed up this summer, but when the first day came almost half dropped! (And for those of you wondering, they dropped BEFORE they met me, so I didn't even get a chance to be the "mean teacher"!) I was greatly disappointed because these students obviously had an interest in music but for some reason or another chose not to participate. I've heard various excuses such as "it's too big a commitment" or "I wanted an 'Easy A' class" or even, "I want another study hall". Excuse me, "another"!? This is the part of the story where I, as a newly considered "old person" say, "Back in my day, we didn't even HAVE a study hall!". I'm just kidding, but really, there's no reason that a student needs two study halls, or even one now that we have Common Learning Time (a half hour time period for students to work on homework, i.e. "Study Hall") at the end of each day. Anyways, I digress. No matter the

reason, I have lower numbers in my classes. This is a problem for many reasons!

Number one being that I need a good number of students enrolled to keep the buses moving kids to either school and to keep the program alive. Secondly, I need good numbers to have a well-balances ensemble. And thirdly, and most importantly, Arts Education is part of being a well-rounded person! Check out this link for all the details, <http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/benefits.html>

I understand if you don't want to read the whole thing, but here are a few key points:

• Lower usages of alcohol and drugs.

Secondary students who participated in band or orchestra reported the lowest lifetime and current use of all substances (alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs). Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Report. Reported in Houston Chronicle, January 1998

• Kids that study music do better in Math.

In an analysis of U.S. Department of Education data on more than 25,000 secondary school students (NELS:88, National Education Longitudinal Survey), researchers found that students who report consistent high levels of involvement in instrumental music over the middle and high school years show "significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12." This observation holds regardless of students' socio-economic status, and differences in those who are involved with instrumental music vs. those who are not is more significant over time. Catterall, James S., Richard Chapleau, and John Iwanaga. "Involvement in the Arts and Human Development: General Involvement and Intensive Involvement in Music and Theater Arts." Los Angeles, CA: The Imagination Project at UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, 1999.

• The arts are classified as a Core subject.

"The term 'core academic subjects' means English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography."

No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, Title IX, Part A, Sec. 9101 (11)

• Improves self-esteem!

Students who participated in arts programs in selected elementary and middle schools in New York City showed significant increases in self-esteem and thinking skills. National Arts Education Research Center, New York University, 1990

• Higher grades and academic honors.

Data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 showed that music participants received more academic honors and awards than non-music students, and that the percentage of music participants receiving As, As/Bs, and Bs was higher than the percentage of non- participants receiving those grades.

NELS:88 First Follow-up, 1990, National Center for Education Statistics, Washington DC

• It betters our education system and prepares students to be better workers.

"The nation's top business executives agree that arts education programs can help repair weaknesses in American education and better prepare workers for the 21st century." "The Changing Workplace is Changing Our View of Education." Business Week, October 1996.

So parents, I encourage you to enroll your students in music. If they want to quit, ask them why. Talk to me about how to keep them interested. We have so much fun stuff planned for this year that I'd hate for them to miss out and wish they hadn't quit. Also, if your student hasn't been enrolled in music before, it's never to late to join! I have lesson openings posted outside my door so they have plenty of time to catch up. I think every student should have the opportunity to enjoy and love music. I just need your help!

Friends, if you have any Recruitment advice, feel free to share! Below are my new Recruitment posters. Hopefully this will spark some interest among students that have left us.

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