The petition
IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT MUSIC, IT IS ALL ABOUT LIFE! Well-researched evidence proves that children’s creative experience in music performance has significant impacts on improving educational, social, and economic conditions in our communities. Granting academic credits to high school students for private piano study will help children continue their musical passion. Our creative children will help build a safer, stronger California. We petition our policymakers to sponsor a legislation bill which addresses our concerns. Our reasons are given below:
> MUSIC PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE CONTRIBUTES TO HIGHER SAT SCORES.
The College Entrance Examination Board (2001): Students with experience in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal and 41 points higher on the math, than did students with no arts participation. Scientists at UC Irvine also found that piano instructions are far superior to computer instruction in enhancing children’s abstract reasoning skills necessary for learning math and science. Neurological Research, February 1997
> MUSIC LESSONS PREVENT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.
Youth violence is linked to risk factors such as cognitive deficits, academic failure, and/or low self-esteem. A McGill University study found that children given piano instruction over a three-year period showed significant improvement in cognitive abilities and self-esteem. The McGill Piano Project (1998, April)
Risk Factors and Protective Factors – A Report of the Surgeon General:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/...
Related Information - Office of Justice and Juvenile Delinquency Prevention:
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/grants/...
Music Fights Crime:
http://www.fightcrime.org/ca/c...
> NURTURING MUSICAL CHILDREN TODAY; PREPARING A PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE FOR TOMORROW.
"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.
> WE PAY OUR OWN TUITION! WE ALSO BRING MUSIC TO CHILDREN IN NEED!
At a time when California is tightening its belt on funding for music programs in public schools, our initiative will ensure that our children receive quality music education at our own expenses. Many private piano teachers and music studios are also keen partners for community. They strive to bring quality music education to children of low-income families in our communities.
> PRIVATE PIANO LESSONS STRENGTHEN MUSIC PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Our petition initiative SUPPORTS our public schools and their music programs. Because of the complete discipline in private piano study, many children have also played instrumental roles in symphonic bands or orchestras in their public schools.
> HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS CAN RECEIVE ACADEMIC CREDITS FOR THE SAME MUSIC CURRICULUM. IF HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS CAN, WHY CAN'T OUR CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
To guarantee equal opportunity in education, our children in public schools should receive the same academic credits for private piano study as the home-schooled students. Some California public high schools currently grant academic credits for piano study. California Education Code (51225.3) currently includes performing arts as part of the high school graduation requirements.
High School Graduation Requirements (California): http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/hs...
> PASSING THE CERTIFICATE OF MERIT (MTAC) OR ABRSM GRADED EXAMS PROVES SUFFICIENT CREDENTIAL TO BE AWARDED ACADEMIC CREDITS.
In 2006 alone, approximately 28,000 California children participated in Certificate of Merit evaluation. The testing materials and the passing criteria far surpass the state requirements. These professionally-recognized evaluation programs also help address concerns of shortage in manpower and/or lack of funding to evaluate individual students’ proficiency as some public-school administrators have expressed.
ABRSM Syllabus:
http://abrsm.org/resources/all...
Certificate of Merit (MTAC):
http://www.mtac.org/programs/c...
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