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Nazareth College, Rochester, New York, United States
We are three graduate students from Nazareth College of Rochester using this blog as an avenue for change. We want to share what we have learned about arts education with the rest of the community in hope of inspiring others to help us create change in our education system. We believe the arts are imperative for developing well-rounded students. This blog is designed to bring awareness to our topic while analyzing the specific ideological forces which undergird the funding of the arts as related to the mandates of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Please join us in our fight for change by examining our blog posts. Feel free to comment on any or all of our posts - this is a public forum for discussion and learning, join us!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Diary of a Social Activist- Julie's Life with Music and Band

         As a student who was interested in music and had the opportunity to participate in both band and chorus, I develop several essential skills such as team work, collaboration, accountability, time management and communication.  These skills made me successful both in and out of the classroom.  As a music student, I was told that “We were only as strong as our weakest member”.  Therefore, I knew that what I was doing mattered so I always gave one hundred percent.  Since the band and chorus could not function without each member, who played a significant role in the overall appearance of the group, I learned a lot about collaboration and team effort.  These skills were essential in order for both the band and chorus to be a success. The arts played a key role in developing my social skills and character education. 
The arts also strengthened my core academic areas.  Through participating in music I learned how to speak different languages, read, show emotion, communicate, and several mathematical skills such as the different values of various notes, how to count beats, and the different chords.  Because I was in band and chorus, I was a well rounded student and had to learn how to be a self-directed learner and time management.  Participating in music strengthened my skills in English, reading, math, and even social studies and science.  The skills that I learned while being a member of the band and chorus taught me how to be a better student.  I learned skills that helped me with communication, being a self-advocate, working in a group, and being a leader.  These skills transferred over into my classes and helped to make me a success both in and out of the classroom.  The arts have made me who I am today. And I can say that they had a tremendous impact on my success in school.  Without the arts, students are left without social and content skills which are essential for the success of the individual.    

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