1. Mitchell De Both
Prof. DiSarro
ENG103
1 November 2010
The Importance of Arts Education
I was antisocial, the kid in the corner, my parents urged me to make friends. I
never saw the point or reason. Elementary school was a drag, day in and day out.
Wake up, go to school, come home; that’s how my life in elementary school was. No
friends, nobody to talk to. Reading this may stir up a chuckle from one reader, or a tear
from another. Regardless of whatever response was triggered, there’s a larger
message here. Participating in the art(music, dance, theatre, painting etc…) provide
plentiful benefits. I had a personal story, benefiting from the emotional benefits, but
there are also tons of academic benefits! Students who participate in the arts are four
times more likely to win an award for academic achievement compared to those who
are not (Americans for the Arts par. 1). Over the years the arts have been a significant
part of the education system in America and have proven to be more than just a subject
where students grind to retain information for a week in preparation for a test. The arts
are more than just learning a formula or studying facts of the past; the arts are creativity
at its best. There is nothing better to learn and understand than oneself. But
unfortunately, during a time of economic struggle, countless art, music, and theater
classes have been cut to satisfy the demands of the state. Budget had cuts have been
made left and right, approximately 30% to the arts, and school corporations take the
simple and uneducated decision, to cut the arts. Cutting the arts out of the schools,

2. primarily music, is not only harmful to the future of America, but harmful to the students
themselves. Creating a sense of pride, confidence, team and leadership skills, and
developing creativity is a necessity to acquiring the best education a student can get.
A personal story doesn't stand for much, considering I'm only one out of millions
art students, but out of a short survey with a sample size of thirty-four, twenty-seven of
the students stated the arts was one of the best experiences they have ever had (De
Both). Not only one of their best experiences but they also claimed they learned tons
from their experiences, and those twenty-seven claimed the arts helped them overcome
a personal issue such as a lack in social skills, being shy, and/or a lack of confidence.
A lack in social skills was my plight, but meeting some of the best people, and friends, in
my music classes helped me turn out of be an outgoing, friendly guy. Again a personal
story doesn't account for much, but it changed my life. And if 27 out of 34 students
claim to of had an experience, even somewhat similar to mine, that's millions of
students affected positively, academically, and emotionally because of the arts. If 27
out of 34 students claim to the arts being one of their best experiences and helped them
academically, and you compare that to the population of America participating in the
arts, that’s millions of students affected positively. The mental and emotional benefits of
the arts expand farther than most know. It differs from person to person, but take the
song "The Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel. The soothing voices and smooth
lyrics can be calming for many. Or take the new hit single, "Love the Way You Lie" by
Eminem. I hear it in the gym almost every night, because it gets many people "pumped
up" to work out. From a different perspective, take a famous film such as "Titanic" or
"Schindler's List". The emotional impacts are created from the arts, and these films will

3. be timeless. The arts are a significant part of history, and aid in creating it. The
emotional benefits are extraordinary, but the academic benefits are amazing.
An interesting fact, studying music stimulates the brain stem, meaning an
increased performance in retaining and successfully learning information. The arts
prove to boost academic performance. "The arts make a tremendous impact on the
developmental growth of every child and has been proven to help level the "learning
field" across socio-economic boundaries" (Young 1). An interesting study from
Standford University states students participating in the arts are four times more likely to
be recognized for academic achievement, three times more likely to be elected to class
office within their schools, four times more likely to participate in a math and science
fair, three times more likely to win an award for school attendance, and are four times
more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem (Americans for the Arts par. 2.
If that doesn't convey a message about the academic benefits for the arts, then so be it,
take away the arts. Besides form academics, these benefits transfer past middle and
high school. The sense of pride and leadership skills developed pass on to the “real
world”. Potentially students are more-so prepared than their peers in some aspects.
Developing good attendance, confidence, and team skills is definitely a step up in the
“real world” with professional careers.
Unfortunately, in our current economic position, money holds back these
curricular classes, hurting the future of America. The one main argument against the
arts education is the cost of holding such classes. Sure, it's expensive to keep teachers
and purchase instruments, but the benefits can't be compared to the cost of money. To
have a young teenager proud of his accomplishments with the arts, whether it be

4. pottery, guitar, saxophone, singing, it should be enough for school districts to realize the
importance. Some may argue the students in the United States are falling behind in
math, science, and history; but music, studied from an early age develops these skills
and prepares students for the concepts learned in later years. Counting music develops
basic addition, subtraction, and division. Music can be related to physics and sound
waves. Why some instruments produce larger, or lower frequency, sound waves, while
others produce high frequency waves. We learn about foreign wars in world history, but
nothing is said about the history of music, dance, or theatre. The arts can combine all
these subjects very easily, and it’s a goal of music educators. Here are two principles
for music educators, taken from the MENC (National Association for Music Education
par. 1); understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines
outside the arts, and understanding music in relation to history and culture. The goal of
many of the art subjects is to connect it with other disciplines.
Taking away the sense of confidence, pride, critical thinking, teamwork, and
dedication from their future is blasphemy in a sense. Developing a certain level or
artistic ability, or capabilities on an instrument creates confidence. Improvising
melodies promotes critical thinking, which is a huge push in Indiana public schools.
Playing in an ensemble requires team skills; listening for intonation and doing your part
of the work is required to perform a piece well. It's imperative the future of America
have the best education that they can have. Don't cut the education fund, cut anything
else; maybe the trillions of dollar for the military? The benefits of the Arts outnumber
most other educational experiences. It helps mature and individualize who we are.
Studying the emotional, mental, and academic benefits from the Arts clearly states the

5. importance that they've created. If school officials knew the importance of the Arts,
whether it be music, painting, or even graphic imaging, I firmly believe programs would
not be cut to appease the budget cuts that are being asked of many, if not all school
corporations. Secretary of Education Rod Paige sums it up well:
The arts, perhaps more than any other subject, help students understand
themselves and others, whether they lived in the past or are living in the present.
The arts allow us to explore new worlds and to view life from another
perspective. (par. 4)
During a time of economic recession, creativity cannot be cut. The Art's provide not
only an academic escape, but also an outlet for emotional expression. Do not cut music
and art to appease the state; lower energy costs, support fundraisers, or even put a tax
on fast food to help raise money for education. America needs to be the place where
education is best, don’t you agree?

6. Works Cited
De Both, Mitchell. "Survey for the Arts." Unpublished Survey, 2010.
National Association for Music Education. National Standards for Music Education.
MENC, 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2010.
"Secretary of Education Says NCLB Includes Arts." Teaching Music 12.2 (2004): 17.
Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Print. 16 Nov. 2010.
Young, Jr., Terrence E. "KEEPING THE ARTS ALIVE." School Library Journal 51.2
(2005): 88. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Print. 16 Nov. 2010.