Hi Mary,

It's not just about music teachers in the schools, but musical experiences and the other arts. This can be done in many ways. The the El Sistema youth music program, which began in Venezuela, has spread to other countries and cities, including Seattle. Here's an article I wrote for the NW HOOT some time ago. I strongly support this program, and have also donated one of my old violins to it's cause. In our affluent public schools there are some wonderful music programs, but it's in the disadvantaged schools (Seattle's central district, for example) where kids are being left out - they can benefit greatly from this program, even if they do not become professional musicians.

Seattle Music Project
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, NOT GUNS
by Stewart Hendrickson
From the NW HOOT, January, 2013

"The huge spiritual world that music produces in itself, ends up overcoming material poverty. From the minute a child's taught how to play an instrument, he's no longer poor. He becomes a child in progress, heading for a professional level, who'll later become a citizen." - Maestro José Antonio Abreu, founder of the El Sistema youth music program in Venezuela. Read More

Cheers, S. in Seattle