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Dec 10, 1999 Dear Editor, To the SMMUSD Board of Education and Dr. Schmidt: Our family moved to this area from a suburb of Philadelphia two years ago. Despite numerous friends' warnings about the sorry state of public education and its funding in California, we rejected private schools and opted to live in Santa Monica so we could send our children to public school here. Certainly, we were attracted by the quality of the academics, but we were especially drawn by the outstanding music program. Imagine our shock to learn that the elementary music program is now threatened. It is difficult to convey what playing the violin, and exposure to music
more generally, has done for our 11-year old daughter (a sixth grader
on the Concert Orchestra at Lincoln). Involvement in music has fostered
our daughter's self-confidence, poise, and interest in the arts. It has
helped her develop discipline, good study habits, and a belief in the
value of hard work. It has helped her understand that teamwork is about
individuals with diverse talents coming together to create a larger whole.
It has helped her develop an appreciation for positive aspects of our
culture. Imagine a sixth grader who goes around the house humming Vivaldi,
or whose favorite compact disc is Bach's double Imagine a sixth grader whose favorite school day is Thursday, because
that is the day the Lincoln Concert Orchestra rehearses. Imagine a sixth
grader who looks forward to high school so she can be on the Symphony
Orchestra and The feature that makes the SMMUSD different is the music program. Stairway
to the Stars is a unique, magnificent, awe-inspiring spectacle that demonstrates
what children are capable of when they are engaged, stimulated, and taught
and directed by adults who love what they do. Eliminating the elementary school component of the music program would eat away at the core of the district's (and the city's) personality and values, and would have ripple effects on the students for years to come. A good education is about many things, including instruction in the music and arts that both reflect and shape our traditions and culture. To paraphrase Richard Dreyfuss in the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus," if you teach reading and writing but take away music and the arts, soon children will have very little to read or write about. Please preserve the elementary music program. Please do the right thing for the city, the district, and, most of all, the children. Sincerely, Jose and Eileen Escarce Dec 10, 1999 Dear Board Members, My son is in the Music program at Lincoln Middle school, and his brother in the 4th grade has recently taken up the clarinet at Franklin. What message will the Board of Education send to the current 4th graders who have enthusiastically started the program?!! The message will be: The adults in my community do not follow through on their commitments to me! Unfortunately, they will be right. Please save the Elementary Music Program. Thank-you, Dec 10, 1999 Dear gentlemen and ladies, Just last night I attended the holiday concert at Lincoln Middle School, where my seventh grade daughter played clarinet in the Concert Band. She began her musical education at Franklin Elementary School in the fourth grade, and has never taken private lessons. If you eliminate music education in the elementary schools, you are SEVERELY damaging the quality of future bands and orchestras at Lincoln, John Adams, and Santa Monica High. You will also be damaging child development of such skills as discipline, practice, teamwork, and enchancing self esteem. This will be an absolute disaster that you have the power and presige
to avoid. My son is a fourth grade student who has just taken up the clarinet
and performed in his first concert last week, where he played a composition
that he wrote himself. I have never seen him look prouder. DON'T deprive
All eyes are on you. Please come through! Bennett Tramer Dec 10, 1999 Dear friends, My earliest childhood memories are of the joys school music imparted to me. Songs I learned in elementary school remain in my heart, where many other things learned there have evaporated into the mists of time. Please, please give the gift of music to today's children, so that they may carry that inspiration and strength into the challenges of the 21st century. Sincerely, Rosalie Grace Heacock Dec 10, 1999 As a longtime resident of Santa Monica, I want to express my support
of Emmett Keeler Dec 10, 1999 Are you all so behind the times to start cutting music programs? Haven't
you been reading articles on how important music is in the development
of Please think again about cutting the instrumental music program in elementary,
or any school level in Santa Monica. Your school district is known for
its Music has found to have a lot of importance in peoples lives, self-esteem,
helping with intellectual thinking, getting through to trouble children,
etc. It's So think twice, three times, even four times before cutting the music Sincerely, Kathy Rosenblatt Dec 10, 1999 Dear Board Members: If those are not compelling enough to preserve the elementary music program intact, consider the civilizing benefits of music education. Playing an instrument gives an outlet for emotions that might otherwise fester or be difficult to express in words. Playing with others fosters socialization. Playing with others in harmony engenders respect for the other guy. Since schools in our society are charged with a civilizing role, music education seems integral to a school's duties, and serves that function in a way that the three R's can't. I urge you to restore the full budget for the music education program. Christine Taylor Dec 10, 1999 I am writing to urge you to reconsider your funding cuts of the SMUSD The benefits of these programs have been innumerable. Besides the obvious gain of music appreciation, participation in these groups has engendered a tremendous sense of spirit and cohesiveness among the students, their parents, and our whole community. My son is now in the high school marching and jazz bands, and his participation in band events and his friendships among the band members are at the core of his high school experience. It really saddens me that your district, which has enjoyed the benefits
of these music programs for so long, is prepared to cut them off. I would
hope that you In any case, I truly hope you can find a way to continue your support of music and art in your district, because their loss would make your schools much poorer in the ways that really count. Thanks very much- Dec 10, 1999 Although I don't have kids in the Santa Monica school system, I strongly recommend retaining the music budget at all educational levels. Studies have shown that participating in any form of musical education enhances logical and analytical thinking as well as creativity. Cutting the music budget could have negative effects on overall academic scores. Of course, music enriches everyone's life. Providing musical training at all levels provides the foundation for a fuller life and deeer appreciation of all art forms. Regards, Mary Bernstein Dec 10, 1999 Gentlepeople: I am a 30 year resident of the City of Santa Monica, whose children are grown and live in other parts of California. However, I am concerned regarding the cutbacks in the music program of our schools. Please do all you can to promote the love and understanding of music for our school children. I had the advantage of belonging to glee clubs and other choral groups throughout my life. It has been one of the biggest pleasures of my life to sing and enjoy music. I am still an active choir member of my church. This is especially notable since I have never been able to read music. I was a child of the depression and there was no money for special instruction, so the public school was IT! When I think of how many years of pleasure and enrichment of my life has been mine, mainly because of my school experience, I can't imagine depriving our school children of their same enjoyment. Thank you. Edith Nichols Dec 10, 1999 Dear SMMUSD School Board Members, We are living in Yale Street 1139, #3 Santa Monica. Our kid is in 4th
grade Canceling the elementary music program will bring a huge ramification
to Its reputation and its excellence in music education is a valuable piece in Santa Monica public school system, we need to do something to keep it. Thanks & regards, Kathy & Simon Siu Dec 10, 1999 Dear School Board Members, I myself started playing violin at age 4; while I did not become a professional musician, it opened up a new world for myself and my siblings. I was lucky enough to have parents who could afford private lessons; many children do not--their only access to music education is through the public schools. Sincerely, Dec 10, 1999 Dear Gentlemen and Ladies, My daughter is part of the wonderful Symphony Orchestra going to Chicago next week. Have you stopped and listened to this incredible group of musicians? Please do not rid of the music program at Samohi. Music and Art and Theatre
The music program has enriched my daughter's life and my oun. Thank you for your consideration. Larry Shulman Dec 10, 1999 I am a music teacher/composer currently teaching guitar privately in
the S.M area. It is sad to see a good school system disregard the importance
of fine Dec 10, 1999 To the Board of Education, Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District: We urge you to find a more realistic solution to the budget crisis you
have There other alternatives to solving the problem, explore each and everyone
of "Let the Music - play on"
Dec 10, 1999 To whom it may concern, I received my early music training in the Santa Monica School system.
At Paul J. Olguin Dec 10, 1999 I am a product of the SMUSD. I started in band in fourth grade at Franklin
and continued through Lincoln and SAMO. I later played with USC's Concert
Band and now ,at nearly 40 , enjoy playing as a hobby with bands in night
clubs on a regular basis. I can clearly say the education at the elementary level was valuable
In my entire SMUSD education, the moment that stands out the most, is
Albert Rappoport Dec 10, 1999 Dear public official: How often do we have to revisit the issue of whether art and music are Sincerely, Richard Grayson Dec 10, 1999 Members of the SMMUSD Board, I have been made aware of the fact that there is a possibility that the As a student, I was involved in sports, government, clubs but .... it
is Is the Board aware of just how many Samohi graduates have gone on to As a member of the G.A.T.E. (gifted and talented education) Advisory DON'T LET THE MUSIC DIE! Cordially, Hilton "Skip" Graef '72 Dec 10, 1999 Dear Board Members, not .......... CUT MUSIC FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really hope that you will/would consider you opions/desisions!!
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