Grandsons on Drum Line
Today I spent the afternoon at Pulaski High school eating chili and listening to all variety of their of middle and high school bands. Pulaski schools have a fantastic music program with award winning bands on all levels. My three grandchildren are fortunate to be students in this musical renowned school system.
The music program reminded me of music in the country of Venezuela. For many years Venezuela has enjoyed a great music program on own levels. The big difference, however, is that in Venezuela, good music programs are available to all, poor and rich, people of variety of racial backgrounds, youth in the barrios to suburbs. Pulaski is a mainly middle class white town and rural area. These white youth are blessed like the multiracial youth of Venezuela to have such a great music program.
Children who live in Milwaukee, especially in North Central and South Central Milwaukee are not so fortunate. They are fortunate if they have a music program at all. Many public schools had to choose between music, art and other programs due to cuts in funding.
Music education is important to youth development. This is clear in Venezuela and certain cities and towns in the USA. But the inequality of music education, as inequality of income, is growing in USA. This is sad.
At the end of the program the drum line got to perform as people were leaving. Both my high school grandsons are part of the drum line and from the faces and passion of these youth, as from sound of the drums, you could feel the music.
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