Reply #8: Too often, the music dies in city schools

[Hannah Bell]

August 16, 2009
BY JEFF GERRITT
Detroit Free Press

Detroit has contributed much to music and jazz — arguably America’s greatest art form. Unfortunately, the decline of music education in Detroit Public Schools means the city will produce fewer artists like trumpeter Donald Byrd, bassist Paul Chambers, violinist Regina Carter and bassist Ron Carter.

Of the city’s 44 high schools, only eight now offer instrumental programs, and the picture is equally bleak for middle and elementary schools. It’s ironic and sad that Byrd, Chambers, Regina Carter and Ron Carter all attended Cass Technical High School, a school that no longer has a jazz band.

Benjamin Pruitt, a supervisor in the fine arts office of Detroit Public Schools, said the district provided a national model for music education in the 1960s and 1970s. Every school had a music program. All high schools and most middle schools had bands and orchestras. Some middle school bands, Pruitt said, were playing high-school level music. A few students went straight from Cass Tech to performing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.


Over the last three decades, however, budget and management problems have muffled Detroit’s music programs. The district has been laying off music teachers since 2005. This year, 14 music teachers retired, and the district replaced none of them.

http://marchingsport.com/m/?p=580


More cuts coming.