Vertical - and local - magnets

Recently our superintendent was given an arts education award for his efforts in creating a middle school arts magnet, as well as his leadership in a fine arts education advisory group. I'm torn about this, especially as someone highly involved in the booster program of a highly successful middle school program.

One the one hand, arts magnets give clearly talented kids (like my sister!) a chance to thrive in an arts focused environment. On the other, could this lead to a weakening of school-based arts programs, where they are most needed to engage "ordinary" kids (like I was)?

(Parenthetically, I've only heard of one arts magnet with a marching band, by the way - the Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Delaware. Tarpon Springs HS in Florida also is a music magnet of sorts, but they take a different approach ... one I admire greatly.)

Arts programs in fair economies are often 'target rich environments' when it comes to school budgets; in weak economies even more so. (Education budgets are, in my opinion, an economic "lagging indicator.") Couple this with the fact that far too many arts organizations and other non-profits depend on government grants and allocations rather than their own fundraising initiatives, and I fear too many communities and advocates are going to be exhibiting that deer-in-the-headlights look.

And when it comes to dollars/kid ... marching band programs are in the bulls-eye.

I believe arts magnets serve a purpose, but I believe marching bands do, too. They are the greatest and most visible opportunity to learn through music. But to survive, local music programs need to have a vertical horizon/mission.

Athletic organizations realized this a long time ago. How many high school coaches reach down to the younger students with clinics? How many add to their staff alumni or middle school coaches? From Little League and Pop Warner to MLB and the NFL, growth comes from the bottom up, and so to some degree high levels of support and vertical integration are key.

Music programs - from the connections of college/university clinics and drum corps (and the help they can give in instrument selection and acquisition) down to the elementary school - should take note. This may be a secret sauce in long term success.