Natalie+Joudrey

CCT205 **  Music lessons help children interact with other peers, promote healthy learning and creativity; so then why are music programs within elementary schools diminishing? Teachers are not well educated within the premise of music history and composition which makes it harder for students to fully understand the meaning of music; this gives the teacher the authority to decide not to teach music on a regular basis. Ontario pedagogy facilities, which are the facilities that train elementary teachers, are tested on over 20 years of history; however, music history is not within the program and the music lessons are very few. The lack of funding from the Ontario government has also contributed to the diminishing of music programs within the elementary schools systems today. The funding is normally given to the programs that are considered to be ‘more important’, such as math, science and English, while music and art programs are suffering and receive minimum funding. Why is Music so Important? **  Many people believe that music is not that important. They believe that music is just a hobby and can be learned on one’s own time rather than within the school systems. Little do people no that music is essential for healthy learning. Margaret McCain says that our society is that of a technological age and the future adults within this age must be well educated within various aspects of life and culture in order to become successful (Voices for Children, 2002). A professor at the Villanova University determined the mere importance of music lessons for young children. Music can help with future math skills. Early age music lessons help brain development which results in the better understanding of math skills. Since the technical age requires essential math skills and the competition for jobs has increased dramatically, by taking away the music programs will also take away essential skills ( Lili M. Levinowitz, 2009 ). Furthermore, music encourages reasoning skills which are essential for understanding science. One of the most important factors that the University focuses on is the social skills that will develop within a music program. Music allows for teamwork. Teamwork is needed for children to cooperate with others to reach a common goal. The professor also says that music produces a sense of belonging and that studies have discovered music can improve self-esteem ( Lili M. Levinowitz, 2009). Dee Dickinson wrote an article in //New Horizons’// describing the importance of music. Dickinson says that music is a language in which every person in our world speaks. Because of globalization, the variety of music from other cultures can decrease the cultural barriers and produces appreciation. Dickinson also explains that music provides children with the ability to use self-expression and creativity, develop the ability for independency along with teamwork, and provide feedback and reflection. Reflection is important. It allows the child to be able to use skills such as analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and ‘problem-finding’ (Dee Dickinson, 1993). The limbic system is that part of the brain that is used to express emotions, to maintain certain memories, and for glandular control. Dr. Paul MacLean of the National Institute of Mental Health “points out that the limbic system is so powerful that it can literally facilitate or inhibit learning and higher order thinking” (Dee Dickinson, 1993). Dr. MacLean argues that the limbic system is essentially exercised by music development. Music helps people express emotions and also to maintain memories and feelings.   The Alliance for Music Education Ontario is an organization that is used to ensure that every child, regardless of economic, geographic, or skill means, is able to receive music education. The organization has determined basic problems within the music education today. They firstly emphasize the fact that there are no specialized teachers to teach music, like French and physical education do. This allows “music programs vulnerable to funding pressures” (Alliance for Music Education, 2008). Secondly they believe that the teachers must be trained more about music before attending classes. Furthermore, they say that the government is producing enough funding for specialized rooms and instruments/equipment for the music programs.  One of the most important aspects of education and what is accessible to the students depends on the government funding. In 1998, the government introduced a funding program that will allow for equalized spending through the province of Ontario (Ministry of Finance, 2008). Since then, the funding program has not followed through and there has been no attempt to revise the flaws that have been seen by groups such as the Education Improvement Commission (Ministry of Finance, 2008). The government claims now that they are paying more for education than they ever have, however, they have not taken into account the rapid increase in students and course enrolment. In reality the government is spending nearly 15% less than it did in the past (Ministry of Finance, 2008). Because of these shortage of funds, many school only have the option to cut programs, one of those programs is the music program.
 * Music within Ontario Elementary School Systems **
 * By: Natalie Joudrey **
 * [[image:musictape.gif width="83" height="73"]]
 * February 4, 2009 **
 * <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Problem: [[image:musicnote.png width="64" height="64"]] **
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 * <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Challenges that music education is facing: **
 * //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Funding: //**
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Recommendations ** <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The Alliance for Music Education Ontario produces some recommendations to help fix the education system and improve the music programs within our schools. They suggest having target funding from the government to ensure that money is given towards the music programs. They also suggest the hiring of specialized music teachers to teach the classes instead of elementary teachers that are not educated in the subject. And if the use of specialized teachers is too expensive, then they suggest having a “standard minimum number of hours devoted to music pedagogy” (Alliance for Music Education, 2008) so that the teachers can be more informed about music and be able to teach music to their students. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> The also recommend having a minimum time for elementary schools to teach music within the classrooms. This will force music programs into the curriculum. And finally, the government must provide funding for specialized rooms and equipment and to increase the funding up to 10% (Alliance for Music Education, 2008). <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">In 2007, the Ministry of Education put funding specifically towards the arts programs, along with grants of $50,000 in order to promote teachers to change the curriculum (Alliance for Music Education, 2008). Some school boards have actually identified music as a specialized program to allow time for music within the curriculum and have used specialized teachers to teach the music programs. Some boards now want to make it a must to have at least one music specialist consultant within every board; however, this is still a working progress. School boards, such as the Toronto District School Board, recently took inventory on their musical instruments and the board has produced $32,000,000 in assets to help manage the equipment (Alliance for Music Education, 2008). <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> The government is trying hard to achieve a common goal to help rebuild school curriculum and produce more funding for the schools. For example, at the beginning of 2008, the government put a $750 million investment to rebuild schools and facilities (Ministry of Finance, 2008). They plan to help rebuild 2,500 schools all over Ontario. The government has also produced the Program Enhancement Grant of $10 million to help the students gain education in the arts, music and physical education programs (Ministry of Finance, 2008).
 * <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Progress **
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Conclusion: ** <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> In conclusion, music is more than just a hobby. Many studies have shown that music is essential for the development of young children. However, in order for the music programs to cause an effect, the school boards must receive more funding from the government to allow these changes to happen. The government is trying its best now to help improve the school systems and allow for programs such as music, art, and physical education to be maintained through out the curriculum. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Work Cited

<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Alliance for Music Education. __Canadian Arts and Learning Symposium__ (2008): 1-6. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Burdeva, T. "The Competence of Music Teachers at the Elementary Schools." __The Competence of Music Teachers at the Elementary Schools__ 8th ser. 3 (2005): 4-6. __The Competence of Music Teachers at the Elementary Schools__. 2005. Trakia University. 03 Feb. 2009 <http://www.uni-sz.bg/tsj/vol3No8_1/T.Burdeva.pdf>. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dickinson, Dee. "Music and the Mind by Dee Dickinson." __New Horizons for Learning__. 1993. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/arts/dickinson_music.htm>. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Levinowitz, Lili M. "Music Together - Articles Archive." __Music Together - The Most Loved Early Childhood Music Program__. Music Together. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.musictogether.com/ArticlesArchive>. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Medina, Jennifer. "City Schools Fail to Comply With State Rule on Arts Classes." __City Schools Fail to Comply With State Rule on Arts Classes__ 2nd ser. 24 (2008): 73-80. __City Schools Fail to Comply With State Rule on Arts Classes__. 7 Mar. 2008. The National Association for Music Education. 3 Feb. 2009 <http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/3344938.pdf>. "Music image by doniya1hottie on Photobucket." __Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket__. 05 Feb. 2009 http://media.photobucket.com/image/music/doniya1hottie/music.gif?o=17. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Ontario Budget 2008: Chapter I: A Stronger Ontario." __Ministry of Finance / Ministère des Finances__. 2008. Ministry of Finance. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2008/chpt1d.html>. __Profy - Technology News and Commentary__. 05 Feb. 2009 <http://profy.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/images/aleslie/a_funny_music_note_000.png>. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #262a2c; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Voices for Children. "Report -- Education funding crisis in Ontario." __Voices for Children__. 2002. Voices for Children. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.voicesforchildren.ca/report-Jun2002-1.htm#educationfunding>. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 200%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">