Music Advocacy

The Latest on Music Education Policy from Capitol Hill

MENC Legislative Memo

October 28, 2010

Discussing Links Between Arts Education, Creativity, and Pre-Service Teacher Training

On October 20 the Higher Education Working Group of the Arts Education Partnership (AEP) presented a forum in Denver, Colorado. MENC President Scott C. Shuler, MENC Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Mike Blakeslee, and MENC's Butera participated in the discussions.

The group focused on the importance of partnerships in pre-service education for classroom teachers. Collaborations could link higher education with PreK–12 schools, artists, and cultural organizations like MENC.

The session also focused on the role creativity plays in how students learn today and will succeed tomorrow. MENC coordinated similar discussions through the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, resulting in the development of a "Skills Map" for the arts.

MENC originally convened the working group of national arts education organizations to complete 21st Century Skills Map, which demonstrates how quality, standards-based arts instruction helps students master 21st century skills. "The original audience for this document included school administrators and policymakers who need to understand how important a quality music/arts education to help children succeed in the 21st century," Shuler said. "Members of the groups are now presenting the map, as we did at the AEP meeting, to encourage arts educators and arts organizations to use the map. We all need to help get out the word about the importance of music/arts education."

Shuler believes, "All citizens need to study the arts. It is particularly important that classroom teachers receive a quality arts education, because they are in a position to transfer both their arts skills and values to the each generation of students. While it is arguably unrealistic to expect all classroom teachers to possess the skills to be the primary teachers of music and the other arts (no pun intended), they can and should encourage their students to sing, to listen to music of different cultures and historical periods, and to write about the music they hear."

During the work-group meeting Colorado Governor Bill Ritter said that America once led through creativity and innovation, "We have lost our competitive edge," an edge that needs to be restored.

"Creativity isn't just about music and the arts, but you can't talk creativity without talking about the tremendous influence the arts and arts education can have in the world of educating kids," Ritter said.

Speaking at the same meeting, Lieutenant Governor Barbara O'Brien said, "the thoughtful connection between the arts and how we educate young people with an eye on our economy is a vibrant way to think about the arts."