Turning the Tide for School Music in California.

It is difficult to argue against the value of music and the arts in the education of young people. A proven catalyst for developing intellectual prowess, music education should stand on its own as a viable and necessary part of every child’s education. Yet, many public school systems in California have been forced to sacrifice arts and music education. Data collected by the U.S. Department of Education and reported in the Music For All Foundation’s staggering report, “The Sounds of Silence”, indicated a 50% drop in California school music enrollment in the past 5 years.

CMEA, the California Association for Music Education, agreed that a first step must be to raise public awareness as to the crisis facing many of our schools’ music programs. To do so, many CMEA members felt that it was time to call upon our state’s “star” power to help promote music in the schools.

With the help of the California Arts Council and a Board of dedicated individuals who answered the call, the California Music Project has now been launched. On behalf of the thousands of deserving students in California and our music educators, CMEA thanks those artists involved in this CD project for supporting the efforts of so many who care about music education in our state. I hope you enjoy the CD and take the time to spread the word about the need for providing our children in California a quality education that includes music and the arts.

Dr. Robert B. Klevan

Immediate Past President, The California Association for Music Education