The Day the Music Died

We have read the articles, watched or listened to television and radio specials, and have sung “Bye-bye Miss American Pie” as we reflected on the 40th anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Richie Valens. Some remember where they were when they heard the news, others weren’t even born yet. Unlike the vigils held at Graceland for Elvis or at Central Park for John Lennon, there were no mobs of people to honor these musicians afterward. Buddy Holly became more popular after his death than he was at the time of the accident. His influence was only noted later. No one noticed when the plane crashed on February 3, 1959. The cornfield was quiet for hours. Only the snow witnessed the carnage as it tried to cover it up. It wasn’t until much later that anybody cared. There was a Grand Pause…

In March, many school districts will celebrate Music in Our Schools month (MIOS). There are numerous ways in which the students will demonstrate what they have learned, the skills the have acquired, and the gifts they have to share with the community. There will be concerts, clinics, and dinners. But, there are schools where only silence will grace the auditoriums, wishes for instruments will not be realized, and a chance to enjoy and explore one of life’s basic pleasures will be denied. These schools have cut their music programs or have severely disabled them due to economic hardships or competing interests.

Psychologist Dr. Howard Gardner referred to music as one of the seven intelligences in his Multiple Intelligence Theory (MI Theory). The others are logical-mathematical, linguistic, spatial, kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Others have been added, but the point is that music is a basic important part of life and not just a leisure activity. It needs to remain in the core curriculum.

While difficult choices will need to be made in the coming months, we need to remember that thriving societies cherished the arts. We can all help in our own districts by supporting the music programs, buying fundraising items, attending concerts, participating in our child’s music booster organization (sometimes the only thing keeping the music alive!), and communicating to school officials how important these programs are to you, the community, and the generations to follow. Don’t stay as silent as the snow in that Iowa cornfield or blanket the wreckage with snowdrifts of excuses. The children need to know you care. There would be many more casualties if the blizzards of budget cut threats are ignored and that would truly be “The Day the Music Died”.

Jim Meck
http://www.jimmeck.com/
February 19, 2009 - Bear Creek Mountain Resort 7:00
February 21, 2009 - Conway's BBQ 8:00

For more information about MIOS or how you can make a difference, see http://www.menc.org/.

Jim earned his B.S. in Music Education from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania and holds his professional teaching certification for the Commonwealth of PA.