music education

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said some interesting things about arts and music education in public schools last night at the Grammy's. He said 'that music is just as essential to the next generation's development as any other subject. ' I don't disagree. But I don't support raising taxes for the express purpose of pumping millions of dollars more into schools.

The Grammy Foundation and Grammy Camp programs are in place, ostensibly, to 'teach and encourage thousands of kids who love music.' The mission statement of the Foundation declares that it 'works in partnership with its founder, the Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural legacy.'

If the recording industry is so concerned about music and arts education, why don't they [pardon the pun] band together to create a private music education fund for America's public schools? The big record labels could donate a percentage of their profits and musicians and artists could contribute a portion of their earnings. That would really make a huge difference.