The Wisconsin Music Educators Association has released the following COVID-19 statement: “It is the position of Wisconsin Music Educators Association that, despite the challenges associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic, all children deserve equal access to a credible and well-rounded education that includes high-quality study of music and the arts, regardless of the mode of delivery in which teaching and learning occur. Study of the arts, including music, is fundamentally important as it connects people to that which makes us uniquely human. In addition, music and arts education support the social and emotional well-being of students and nurture the creation of a welcoming school environment that encourages students to express themselves in safe and positive ways. Now, more than ever, all Wisconsin students need – and deserve – music and arts education as part of a well-rounded education.”
WMEA Position Statement – Music Education for ALL Wisconsin Students
It is the position of Wisconsin Music Educators Association that all children deserve equal access to a credible and well-rounded education that includes high-quality study of music and the arts, taught by certified music and arts teachers. Grounded in standards that highlight the artistic processes Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting, the study of music develops knowledge, skills, and dispositions that provide lifelong benefits to students as individuals and members of a global society, as follows:
- Intentional engagement with music leads to a richer and more meaningful life, as it helps students appreciate beauty, express emotion, develop creativity, value themselves and those around them, and connect with the global community.
- The study of music supports crucial brain development and leads to educational outcomes considered essential for college, career, and citizenship readiness, including: heightened social and emotional awareness, elevated engagement and achievement, and enhanced critical thinking.
- The ability to express oneself through music and the arts builds self-efficacy, nurtures and reflects different cultures, and breaks down traditional barriers, emphasizing commonalities and reinforcing that which makes us uniquely human.
Music and the arts are essential components of a well-rounded education for all children in Wisconsin. As such, support for music education is critical, for the well-being of our students and the welfare of our society.