News
Music Teachers and Our Community
Music teachers broaden learning on many levels. In response to the Lansing School District's recent announcement, the College of Music would like to offer some perspective.
Listen to Mitchell Robinson's May 2 interview on WKAR's Current State program.
The recent decision by the Lansing School Board and Superintendent Yvonne Caamal Canul to cut music, art and physical education elementary teaching positions from the budget next year is disappointing. As leaders of Michigan State University’s College of Music, we believe children in our urban schools deserve the same access to high quality music instruction, provided by certified music teachers, that their peers in the suburbs receive.
Students in Lansing will lose competitive ground due to the absence of the cognitive, kinesthetic and psychomotor development represented by the long-term, sequential study of music. This, in turn, will make Lansing a less desirable place for families with children to live.
While we understand the budget constraints faced by all of the state's educational institutions, the decision to bring in musicians from the community occasionally to engage with students is no more a substitute for a comprehensive music education than bringing in mathematicians periodically would be considered an appropriate math education.
We strongly support Lansing's music teachers and urge the superintendent and the Lansing School Board to reconsider their decision, which negatively affects the quality of learning for Lansing's children in significant ways.
Mitchell Robinson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair of Music Education
Michigan State University
Rhonda Buckley
Associate Dean for Outreach and Engagement
Executive Director, Community Music School
Michigan State University
James Forger
Dean, College of Music
Michigan State University
Click here to read about the viewpoint of Mitchell Robinson, chair of the Music Education Department.
The following organizations endorse the MSU College of Music's position on this matter:
Capital Area Music Teacher’s Association
The National Association for Music Education
Click here to read their letter of support
The Lansing Symphony Orchestra
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
Wharton Center for the Performing Arts
The Greater Lansing Arts Council
Click here to read an opinion article from them on this issue.
Michigan Art Education Association
Michigan Chapter of American String Teachers Association
Michigan Music Education Association
Michigan Music Teachers Association
Michigan School Band & Orchestra Association
Michigan School Vocal Music Association
Michigan Youth Arts Association
Mid Michigan Orff Schulwerk Music Association
Partnership for Music Education Policy Development
If you would like to share your comments with the MSU College of Music, click here
