This morning I watched a film that was shared in a Facebook group which I was invited to join. The group was formed recently because of our local school district’s plan to axe the elementary and middle school music programs because of money problems. I won’t go into the details, or even my opinion of the inability of the school trustees and administration to listen, or to think and plan creatively. The film was “Silence of the Strings: A Community Movement for Music”, released in 2002 and documents the community support behind students attempt to change the direction of the school board.
One successful violinist who got her start in the elementary strings program at a local school, said “music is an escape”. She was talking about music providing youth with an “escape” that was a real alternative to other escapes such as drugs.
In 2002, following a two year battle, the youth and wider community of Victoria were able to convince the school board to reinstate the strings program in elementary schools. Not only were professional musicians involved in supporting the initiative, but a famous local artist provided funding and donated paintings to support the program.
Once again, in 2021 the school board is working on slashing not only elementary strings, but full middle school choir and band programs in the district. There is once again a community uproar against a very stubborn but slim majority of the trustees who refuse to listen, and are incapable of creative problem-solving. And also preferring an increase in their own take-home pay to constructive programs for youth.
Music as an escape….I have known and understood this concept for as long as I can remember. As a child I was extremely shy and chose to stay in my room or at the piano as much as possible. Meeting up with friends didn’t happen much. Perhaps that was because of restrictions and household rules, or maybe because I didn’t really have friends until partway through high school. It’s hard to find other kids wanting to hang out with someone who seldom speaks! So, I would practice, and learn to play other instruments. Piano was my first instrument, then trumpet, organ, guitar; then all the band instruments. It was easy for a non-social person to find 3 to 4 hours a day to practice. My escape place at school was the band room. I could hide away in the band library and file music, or retreat into a practice room to learn some new music or begin a new instrument.
The local school board has some difficult choices to deal with at the upcoming meeting. The community is angry, and anxious about the cuts not only to the music programs, but also to education assistance programs. We can feel sorry for the majority of the trustees and administrators who don’t have, and perhaps never have had music in their lives. That is my only explanation for their inability to see the importance of fine arts in students’ lives, and their inability to look at creative solutions. Also, their obvious inability to work collaboratively with others who might have different insight.
Reflections 