Featured Letter: Music education too vital to lose

To the editor:

While home on spring break, I heard an awful rumor that the North Fork public schools were strongly considering cutting their music programs. Music being one of my majors, I could not imagine students at Mattituck or any other school not having the same opportunities I did. Music has given me much more than the chance to sing in my high school chorus; it also helped in assisting the well rounded-education I received in high school and now continue in college.

I’m a junior and have an internship at VH1 Save The Music Foundation. This nonprofit organization’s main goals are restoring instrumental music education in America’s public schools and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child’s complete education.

Now more than ever, I appreciate and value music education. I work with the program and development teams who deal with schools that cannot afford instruments for their students. After the instruments are finally given to the children, teachers comment that they almost immediately see an improvement in their students, who are more attentive, get higher grades and start to think “outside the box.”

It’s a hassle to get their music programs somewhat restored, which is why it makes me so sick to my stomach that my hometown is possibly in this position.

Music education can give kids opportunities that many of us don’t think about. If it weren’t for music, it’s very possible I would not be in college.

Giving a child an instrument or a voice lesson can change their future. I urge the community and school boards to think of the damage they can do to a child’s education by taking away the music programs in our schools.

Megan Radigan, Mattituck

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