I am interested in this research question for multiple reasons. First, I am a classical and jazz musician. Throughout high school, my band program constantly experienced budget cuts and it always affected what we could and could not purchase or participate in. Second, I know how much music has forever changed my life and I want future generations of children to be able to experience the very thing that has molded my life. Third, instrumental music is a historic pastime that cannot be lost in history. It is a complex skill and truly is a talent that cannot vanish. Due to my age and limited years left in the education system, I will not be affected by this as much as coming generations. However, I know how important music education is and want to bring sight to the current situation at hand. My past and present experience as a musician and student qualifies me to write about this topic. Prior to this assignment I knew budget and program cuts in music education were problems in society and was affected by this issue first hand. I am still continuing my practice of music at the University of South Carolina. This has allowed me to see how students majoring in music education struggle trying to find jobs and make a living in this field. Music has always been a part of my life and I am an advocate for it staying around for the future generations of children in America.

In the first article I found, "Bringing Back What Works in Education" by Katherine Damkohler, she immediately states that there is a need for music education programs right now more than ever. She explains that the lack of music education programs specifically in New York, where she lives, is extremely high. Damkohler then begins to explain the multiple benefits of music education. She talks about the higher GPA, higher standardized test scores, lower drop out rates, higher college attendance, and higher community volunteer participation. She recognizes that March is Music Education Month and calls for people to advocate the positive impact of music education. Katherine Damkohler has been Executive Director of Education Through Music since 1991. She is also a strong promoter of the arts, as she worked in the education system. Due to her involvement in the education system and passion for the arts, the article may tend to be slightly biased.

The next article I found was titled "School Art Programs: Should They Be Saved?" by Valeriya Metla. She does a great job of covering all aspects of the issue. Metla states the current situation at hand that is causing a decrease of music education funding and even some programs as a whole. She states that the current cause is a lack of available funding in the school system and the current emphasis on common core. Metla then explains the multiple benefits of arts education, most of which have been previously mentioned by Katherine Damkohler. She also has a call to action and offers a solution to bringing the programs back to schools. Valeriya Metla is the author of this article for Law Street Media. She studied criminal justice and regional studies. Her research on the topic makes her credible and her lack of participation in arts programs and the education system helps prevent bias. Metla remains very factual throughout the article as he states the positive effects of music education as well as how the economy has taken a huge hit recently.

In third article I found, "The Consequences of Curtailing Music Education" by James Catterall, he brings an interesting view point to the discussion of music education programs in schools. He is an advocate for music education, but discusses more of the benefits of music education besides the academic statistics that every other advocate points out. He discusses the benefits of music alone brings to a human, regardless of academic achievement, such as motivation levels and the talent it takes to be musically literate. James Catterall is a professor in UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, Center for Culture, and Brain Development. Catterall seems to have credibility due to his title, but this also shows some bias since he is an educator. However, his study of brain development can help him come to his conclusions about music's affects on the brain in a very factual manner.

The question of how the cut of music education programs will affect our future generations of children can pose some argument. Some may argue that the future generations will be affected, but there is nothing we can do if the economy keeps taking blows to the education budget. Although this is true, the question of if music education programs should be the first to get cut over something like sports is then posed. Most of the articles I found all tend to agree with each other and all are very factual. The statistics that these authors have provided all line up and continue to advocate music education. I have yet to find an article that is critical of music education programs in school, but I do wish to find one to create more of an argument for my research.

