The Cost of Silence: Defending Music Education | Carly Palkon | TEDxYouth@Wilmington

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] Oh

Oh

Oh [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you

you

you [Music]

you have to excuse me for just one

you have to excuse me for just one moment my next drop doesn’t exactly

moment my next drop doesn’t exactly

moment my next drop doesn’t exactly match my outfit believe it or not even

match my outfit believe it or not even

match my outfit believe it or not even though I’ve been playing the alto sax

though I’ve been playing the alto sax

though I’ve been playing the alto sax from now about six years it wasn’t

from now about six years it wasn’t

from now about six years it wasn’t always meant to be because originally I

always meant to be because originally I

always meant to be because originally I was going to play the trumpet but before

was going to play the trumpet but before

was going to play the trumpet but before I get into that I would like to go back

I get into that I would like to go back

I get into that I would like to go back to where my love of music really began

to where my love of music really began

to where my love of music really began and that was with fourth grade band

and that was with fourth grade band

and that was with fourth grade band throughout the six years that I’ve been

throughout the six years that I’ve been

throughout the six years that I’ve been pursuing my passion of music I have

pursuing my passion of music I have

pursuing my passion of music I have learned many lessons like how to be

learned many lessons like how to be

learned many lessons like how to be creative how to cooperate how to be

creative how to cooperate how to be

creative how to cooperate how to be confident and how to commit to something

confident and how to commit to something

confident and how to commit to something but in order to join fourth grade band

but in order to join fourth grade band

but in order to join fourth grade band there was a test that we each had to

there was a test that we each had to

there was a test that we each had to take in order to make sure that we have

take in order to make sure that we have

take in order to make sure that we have the motor skills necessary to learn an

the motor skills necessary to learn an

the motor skills necessary to learn an instrument and for the trumpet which was

instrument and for the trumpet which was

instrument and for the trumpet which was the instrument I desperately wanted to

the instrument I desperately wanted to

the instrument I desperately wanted to play I had to be able to tighten my lips

play I had to be able to tighten my lips

play I had to be able to tighten my lips and blow out the air from my lungs

and blow out the air from my lungs

and blow out the air from my lungs travel through my mouth and through the

travel through my mouth and through the

travel through my mouth and through the mouthpiece to produce sound miss summers

mouthpiece to produce sound miss summers

mouthpiece to produce sound miss summers my fourth eighth grade band teacher

my fourth eighth grade band teacher

my fourth eighth grade band teacher handed me in the mouthpiece and told me

handed me in the mouthpiece and told me

handed me in the mouthpiece and told me however at the time my lips and my mouth

however at the time my lips and my mouth

however at the time my lips and my mouth weren’t very coordinated and when I

weren’t very coordinated and when I

weren’t very coordinated and when I tried I failed no sound came out I was

tried I failed no sound came out I was

tried I failed no sound came out I was just standing there with my tongue

just standing there with my tongue

just standing there with my tongue pressed against my mouth miss Sommers

pressed against my mouth miss Sommers

pressed against my mouth miss Sommers rounded that and she asked me to try

rounded that and she asked me to try

rounded that and she asked me to try again only this time when I tried again

again only this time when I tried again

again only this time when I tried again I just end up spitting everywhere

I just end up spitting everywhere

I just end up spitting everywhere needless to say it wasn’t going to work

needless to say it wasn’t going to work

needless to say it wasn’t going to work out but before I could realize that my

out but before I could realize that my

out but before I could realize that my childhood dream of becoming Louie

childhood dream of becoming Louie

childhood dream of becoming Louie Armstrong was dashed miss summers pulled

Armstrong was dashed miss summers pulled

Armstrong was dashed miss summers pulled out an alto saxophone mouthpiece she’d

out an alto saxophone mouthpiece she’d

out an alto saxophone mouthpiece she’d has to read to it we just use to help

has to read to it we just use to help

has to read to it we just use to help reduce the jazzy sound that we all know

reduce the jazzy sound that we all know

reduce the jazzy sound that we all know and love and she told me if you can make

and love and she told me if you can make

and love and she told me if you can make a sound I’ll let you join the alto sax

a sound I’ll let you join the alto sax

a sound I’ll let you join the alto sax offense instead so I tried to play the

offense instead so I tried to play the

offense instead so I tried to play the alto saxophone mouthpiece but what

alto saxophone mouthpiece but what

alto saxophone mouthpiece but what follows is probably the most horrific

follows is probably the most horrific

follows is probably the most horrific screech that miss Sommers had ever heard

screech that miss Sommers had ever heard

screech that miss Sommers had ever heard but it was a sound so miss Sommers puts

but it was a sound so miss Sommers puts

but it was a sound so miss Sommers puts me in the fourth grade band with about

me in the fourth grade band with about

me in the fourth grade band with about 15 other alto saxophone students and

15 other alto saxophone students and

15 other alto saxophone students and from my first band practice begins a

from my first band practice begins a

from my first band practice begins a love story that continues with fifth

love story that continues with fifth

love story that continues with fifth grade band then jazz band

grade band then jazz band

grade band then jazz band my first solo and later my first

my first solo and later my first

my first solo and later my first competition I and many other music

competition I and many other music

competition I and many other music education students have had a similar

education students have had a similar

education students have had a similar experience unfortunately many children

experience unfortunately many children

experience unfortunately many children they never have this joyful experience

they never have this joyful experience

they never have this joyful experience since 2008 80% of schools have had their

since 2008 80% of schools have had their

since 2008 80% of schools have had their funding for the Arts cut this is

funding for the Arts cut this is

funding for the Arts cut this is shocking to consider especially since we

shocking to consider especially since we

shocking to consider especially since we know that music education provides so

know that music education provides so

know that music education provides so many benefits to children and even to

many benefits to children and even to

many benefits to children and even to adults yet why our music education

adults yet why our music education

adults yet why our music education programs being cut one of the most

programs being cut one of the most

programs being cut one of the most obvious reasons is funding however our

obvious reasons is funding however our

obvious reasons is funding however our indifferent attitude towards music

indifferent attitude towards music

indifferent attitude towards music education is a major factor we tend to

education is a major factor we tend to

education is a major factor we tend to see music as non-essential when in fact

see music as non-essential when in fact

see music as non-essential when in fact it should be a priority

it should be a priority

it should be a priority after all schools and music education

after all schools and music education

after all schools and music education have an estimated 90 point 2 percent

have an estimated 90 point 2 percent

have an estimated 90 point 2 percent graduation rate compared to the 72 point

graduation rate compared to the 72 point

graduation rate compared to the 72 point nine percent graduation rate of schools

nine percent graduation rate of schools

nine percent graduation rate of schools without and even for schools that do

without and even for schools that do

without and even for schools that do have music education it’s seen as a club

have music education it’s seen as a club

have music education it’s seen as a club for the school year of 2009 through 2010

for the school year of 2009 through 2010

for the school year of 2009 through 2010 only 70 percent of schools required at

only 70 percent of schools required at

only 70 percent of schools required at least one complete credit of music

least one complete credit of music

least one complete credit of music education to graduate many of us in this

education to graduate many of us in this

education to graduate many of us in this room have probably heard of the STEM

room have probably heard of the STEM

room have probably heard of the STEM program

program

program also notice science technology

also notice science technology

also notice science technology engineering and math many government

engineering and math many government

engineering and math many government departments educators and businesses

departments educators and businesses

departments educators and businesses advocate for both stem and it’s

advocate for both stem and it’s

advocate for both stem and it’s importance what they don’t advocate

importance what they don’t advocate

importance what they don’t advocate however is music as a way to further

however is music as a way to further

however is music as a way to further stunt abilities after all music has this

stunt abilities after all music has this

stunt abilities after all music has this very foundation in math not to mention

very foundation in math not to mention

very foundation in math not to mention the science that goes into making these

the science that goes into making these

the science that goes into making these instruments music to not be seen as an

instruments music to not be seen as an

instruments music to not be seen as an extracurricular or a club it should be

extracurricular or a club it should be

extracurricular or a club it should be seen as a primary subject that begins as

seen as a primary subject that begins as

seen as a primary subject that begins as early as preschool and can use all the

early as preschool and can use all the

early as preschool and can use all the way throughout throughout high school

way throughout throughout high school

way throughout throughout high school there are many lessons that I’ve learned

there are many lessons that I’ve learned

there are many lessons that I’ve learned throughout my time and band but there

throughout my time and band but there

throughout my time and band but there are two lessons that I would like to

are two lessons that I would like to

are two lessons that I would like to share with you today and the first one

share with you today and the first one

share with you today and the first one is that music is so much more than the

is that music is so much more than the

is that music is so much more than the numbers the politics and the statistics

numbers the politics and the statistics

numbers the politics and the statistics behind it music is the language of love

behind it music is the language of love

behind it music is the language of love and joy it gives us a creative outlet

and joy it gives us a creative outlet

and joy it gives us a creative outlet and allows us to communicate with each

and allows us to communicate with each

and allows us to communicate with each other in ways we didn’t even think

other in ways we didn’t even think

other in ways we didn’t even think possible one does not need to share the

possible one does not need to share the

possible one does not need to share the same language the same culture or the

same language the same culture or the

same language the same culture or the same skin color to be able to enjoy

same skin color to be able to enjoy

same skin color to be able to enjoy music together in fact this past summer

music together in fact this past summer

music together in fact this past summer I had the privilege of being able to

I had the privilege of being able to

I had the privilege of being able to volunteer my local youth center and I

volunteer my local youth center and I

volunteer my local youth center and I had a great time playing with the kids

had a great time playing with the kids

had a great time playing with the kids and helping out with the programs that

and helping out with the programs that

and helping out with the programs that were offered at the center one day after

were offered at the center one day after

were offered at the center one day after a particularly rough day of soccer I go

a particularly rough day of soccer I go

a particularly rough day of soccer I go in to grab a drink at the water fountain

in to grab a drink at the water fountain

in to grab a drink at the water fountain and as I’m walking by this ten-year-old

and as I’m walking by this ten-year-old

and as I’m walking by this ten-year-old girl is sitting on a keyboard

girl is sitting on a keyboard

girl is sitting on a keyboard playing the classic heart and soul by

playing the classic heart and soul by

playing the classic heart and soul by Hoagy Carmichael for techni world she’s

Hoagy Carmichael for techni world she’s

Hoagy Carmichael for techni world she’s playing really well and I was quite

playing really well and I was quite

playing really well and I was quite impressed so I walk over and say wow

impressed so I walk over and say wow

impressed so I walk over and say wow you’re playing really well

you’re playing really well

you’re playing really well what are you playing she tells me and

what are you playing she tells me and

what are you playing she tells me and then she asks would you like me to teach

then she asks would you like me to teach

then she asks would you like me to teach you

for the rest of that afternoon that

for the rest of that afternoon that ten-year-old girl taught me that song we

ten-year-old girl taught me that song we

ten-year-old girl taught me that song we even get to know each other’s names

even get to know each other’s names

even get to know each other’s names until much later but we were able to

until much later but we were able to

until much later but we were able to share a common experience through music

share a common experience through music

share a common experience through music the second lesson that I’d like to share

the second lesson that I’d like to share

the second lesson that I’d like to share with you and probably the most important

with you and probably the most important

with you and probably the most important lesson that I’ve learned so far it’s the

lesson that I’ve learned so far it’s the

lesson that I’ve learned so far it’s the art of commitment for one more moment I

art of commitment for one more moment I

art of commitment for one more moment I would like to go back to fourth grade

would like to go back to fourth grade

would like to go back to fourth grade band for our winter concert I and all

band for our winter concert I and all

band for our winter concert I and all the other band students had spent quite

the other band students had spent quite

the other band students had spent quite a while preparing a bunch of different

a while preparing a bunch of different

a while preparing a bunch of different songs to form in front of our parents or

songs to form in front of our parents or

songs to form in front of our parents or whoever happened to come out that night

whoever happened to come out that night

whoever happened to come out that night however no matter how hard we tried

however no matter how hard we tried

however no matter how hard we tried there’s one song that we cannot get in

there’s one song that we cannot get in

there’s one song that we cannot get in that song was hot cross buns either we

that song was hot cross buns either we

that song was hot cross buns either we were playing the wrong notes or we were

were playing the wrong notes or we were

were playing the wrong notes or we were too loud or we were out of sync with

too loud or we were out of sync with

too loud or we were out of sync with each other we often I and many others

each other we often I and many others

each other we often I and many others would complain and not want to keep

would complain and not want to keep

would complain and not want to keep playing that song but whenever we will

playing that song but whenever we will

playing that song but whenever we will complain our band teacher miss summers

complain our band teacher miss summers

complain our band teacher miss summers would tell us just try one more time

would tell us just try one more time

would tell us just try one more time you’ve got it the next time and so we

you’ve got it the next time and so we

you’ve got it the next time and so we continued on the night of the fourth

continued on the night of the fourth

continued on the night of the fourth grade winter concert thanks to our

grade winter concert thanks to our

grade winter concert thanks to our cooperation and our commitment we

cooperation and our commitment we

cooperation and our commitment we brought the house down with hot cross

brought the house down with hot cross

brought the house down with hot cross buns

every single child deserves the

every single child deserves the opportunity to be able to confidently

opportunity to be able to confidently

opportunity to be able to confidently get up on stage and prints on something

get up on stage and prints on something

get up on stage and prints on something that they’ve worked so hard for so how

that they’ve worked so hard for so how

that they’ve worked so hard for so how do we ensure that every single child

do we ensure that every single child

do we ensure that every single child gets that opportunity first of all I

gets that opportunity first of all I

gets that opportunity first of all I would highly suggest that you support

would highly suggest that you support

would highly suggest that you support your music program in any way possible

your music program in any way possible

your music program in any way possible if you are financially able donate to

if you are financially able donate to

if you are financially able donate to the program or help participate fund

the program or help participate fund

the program or help participate fund raisers if you want to see a music

raisers if you want to see a music

raisers if you want to see a music program in your school district go to

program in your school district go to

program in your school district go to school board meetings and advocate for

school board meetings and advocate for

school board meetings and advocate for these programs if you or your family is

these programs if you or your family is

these programs if you or your family is looking for something to do on a Friday

looking for something to do on a Friday

looking for something to do on a Friday night check to see if your local school

night check to see if your local school

night check to see if your local school district is performing anything if

district is performing anything if

district is performing anything if students teachers and parents alike show

students teachers and parents alike show

students teachers and parents alike show their support it is hard for these

their support it is hard for these

their support it is hard for these programs become to describe it’s very

programs become to describe it’s very

programs become to describe it’s very hard to be spreaded this programs and to

hard to be spreaded this programs and to

hard to be spreaded this programs and to fund them every single boy and girl

fund them every single boy and girl

fund them every single boy and girl losers feel to learn to grow and to fail

losers feel to learn to grow and to fail

losers feel to learn to grow and to fail within the safe confines of a music

within the safe confines of a music

within the safe confines of a music program

program

program however this opportunity only exists if

however this opportunity only exists if

however this opportunity only exists if we create it which is why we need to

we create it which is why we need to

we create it which is why we need to continue to support and fund music

continue to support and fund music

continue to support and fund music education programs my dream is that one

education programs my dream is that one

education programs my dream is that one day wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could

day wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could

day wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could work all work together and give every

work all work together and give every

work all work together and give every child quality education program to help

child quality education program to help

child quality education program to help them better succeed and prepare them for

them better succeed and prepare them for

them better succeed and prepare them for this glorious band called life thank you

this glorious band called life thank you

this glorious band called life thank you very much