Fine arts participation benefits students in many ways

This information is being shared on behalf of the Orion Music Boosters organization.  The Music Boosters is a support group comprised of parents who have children in band and/or choir in the Orion School District.  All parents whose children participate in music education are considered members of the Orion Music Boosters organization.

While we realize that district budget cuts and program changes are necessary at this time, we urge the school board and administration to carefully consider the impact of significant reductions in the fine arts programs. 

While our focus might be on the music portion of the fine arts, we also realize the importance and the impact of art education in this school district. Budget cuts to the art programs may have a similar impact on students.

There is a bank of educational research that supports music education in the schools.  Studies from the US Department of Education indicate that students who are involved in the arts perform better on eighth and 10th grade achievement tests and make up 65 to 75 percent of the top two quartiles of scores.

Similar percentages are evident in students achieving A and B grades in English. 

Math scores are also positively impacted when students are involved in the arts.

Studies also show that dropout rates for students involved in music are lower than for those who are not involved in the fine arts.

Membership in band and choir teaches teamwork and leadership skills, in addition to boosting self-esteem and self-confidence and promoting community service. Not only are there positive implications for the students, but studies show that arts-rich schools foster teachers who are more interested in their work and pursuing professional development experiences.

Our district has a very strong elementary music program which provides a strong start in music education and encourages students to participate in music in the upper grades. Middle school is the time in a child’s education when it is important to offer opportunities to explore new activities and skills such as art, instrumental music or vocal music. 

As our students are developing new interests and talents, the opportunity to learn about the fine arts through classes offered in the curriculum is vital. 

Many students are not able to afford private music instruction, and offering band and choir in the schedule is the only way they will be able to explore the arts. 

Currently, our band and choir directors provide small group (5-15 students) lessons to sixth, seventh and eighth graders during the school day and after school. 

These lessons are designed to foster a strong musical foundation that can be built upon in the following years. 

We do not expect students to learn new skills (e.g., reading, math) without a measure of individual or small group instruction, and we would not anticipate that students will learn instrumental or vocal techniques without similar instruction.

The strong foundation provided through lessons impacts the quality and integrity of the music programs district-wide.

Reducing our directors to part-time will severely limit the amount of lesson time they will be able to provide our OMS students. 

Fine arts credits are part of the graduation requirements at Orion High School. Reducing the music and art programs will have an impact on students who wish to take these classes to fulfill that requirement.

Our music educators would also be qualified to teach classes such as music theory, music history and music appreciation, which would broaden the number of electives available to students with an interest in music. 

Additionally, taking fine arts classes in high school is a requirement for most college admissions. Without those credits, students may not have as many college choices and will most certainly have fewer scholarship opportunities. 

Studies show that music also impacts social development for students, by improving self-esteem and self-concept.

Being a member of the band or choir helps students make the adjustment to a new environment/school (e.g., going from C.R. Hanna to OMS or from OMS to OHS) and to develop positive relationships with peers.  

There are students who are successful in music and art when they might struggle in other academic areas. The success they experience in band and choir can encourage them to continue to achieve in other areas of education. 

We know of students who will tell you they stayed in school because they had the positive experience of belonging to the band or choir. 

Teresa Wyant, Orion Music Boosters