Why Musical Arts?

Challenge & Inspire:

Music plays a vital role in all of our lives. Great music, regardless of style, challenges the mind and inspires the imagination.

 

Music builds better success in grades and test scores:

- Data from College Examination Boards show that students who were involved in music for at least four years scored 100 points better than those who had no musical education.
- Students who have received high level music training earned higher scores in creative thinking than students who had little musical training.


Music builds understanding and acceptance of others:

- Controlled research conducted by the Youth Arts Development Project by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1996 demonstrates that arts programs helped improve communication skills with peers and adults.


Music builds individuality and self-confidence:

- "High Arts" students were better able to express their ideas, use their imagination, take risks in learning, and had better rapport with teachers. >

Artistic Directors' Note:

The idea for Archipelago first started when we were undergraduates in college. We searched for a medium that could satisfy our passion for both performing and teaching music to others. Unfortunately, we were not able to find an outlet that worked for us. Looking at the music programs in public and private schools around the country, we saw a lack of interest by students in the music they were performing in their classes. Our frustration turned to investigation. Through traveling around to different schools and talking to the students there, we made some alarming observations:

  • Most students have very little knowledge about the styles of music they play.
     
  • When asked, most students could not even name one major performer who plays their instrument, though they could easily name pop stars.
     
  • Most students have never seen a live performance of a professional classical or jazz concert.
     
  • Most students have little or no knowledge of the different career possibilities that exist in the music field.
The conclusion? Limited or no exposure to different musical styles contributed to the students' lack of interest. Our solution is to give the students a first-hand experience with professional musicians who can provide insight on how to play their instruments, expose them to varied styles, and provide insight into the many varied ways you can use music to have a career. The response in almost every case has been a peaked interest in their instruments and the music they play.


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