2008 Woodie Awards
Local schools cut budgets for music and art programs
Jannell McConnell
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Expressions
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Aliceville Middle School was filled with sounds of the blues this past Friday morning as students showcased their newfound musical skills alongside internationally renowned blues artist Willie King.
This concert was the culmination of a six-week project run by the Alabama Blues Project, which partnered with Willie King to bring music education to a school that currently receives no funding for art or music programs as part of its curriculum.
The Black Belt Arts Initiative, a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, focuses on bringing the arts to schools in the Black Belt Region of Alabama. Many of the schools in this area receive little to no funding for the arts.
Aliceville Middle School Principal Johnny Johnson said that the school applied for this grant last year because it is the only way they can bring music to their students.
"(The students) have enjoyed this (program) immensely," Johnson said. "They learned a lot and have been indoctrinated in the blues genre of music, as well as the history of it."
Johnson said that having Willie King come play music with the students was the most exciting aspect of the residency. King is not only from Alabama, but he is also a Pickens County native, which is where the school is located. Johnson said it was great that a famous and local artist was able to work with the students.
Both professors and students in Samford's School of the Arts said incorporating music and art programs into school systems is important. They are also realistic about the challenges that music and art educators often face.
"Budget is often the biggest challenge, and the second, which is somewhat tied to the first, is perception," Jim Smisek, professor of instrumental music education, said.
Smisek said that music educators often have to overcome the perception that the fine arts do not hold as much value in the school system as the standard academic subjects or sports.
"The product we produce reaches way beyond trophies or the scoreboard," Smisek said. "It reaches the soul."
This concert was the culmination of a six-week project run by the Alabama Blues Project, which partnered with Willie King to bring music education to a school that currently receives no funding for art or music programs as part of its curriculum.
The Black Belt Arts Initiative, a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, focuses on bringing the arts to schools in the Black Belt Region of Alabama. Many of the schools in this area receive little to no funding for the arts.
Aliceville Middle School Principal Johnny Johnson said that the school applied for this grant last year because it is the only way they can bring music to their students.
"(The students) have enjoyed this (program) immensely," Johnson said. "They learned a lot and have been indoctrinated in the blues genre of music, as well as the history of it."
Johnson said that having Willie King come play music with the students was the most exciting aspect of the residency. King is not only from Alabama, but he is also a Pickens County native, which is where the school is located. Johnson said it was great that a famous and local artist was able to work with the students.
Both professors and students in Samford's School of the Arts said incorporating music and art programs into school systems is important. They are also realistic about the challenges that music and art educators often face.
"Budget is often the biggest challenge, and the second, which is somewhat tied to the first, is perception," Jim Smisek, professor of instrumental music education, said.
Smisek said that music educators often have to overcome the perception that the fine arts do not hold as much value in the school system as the standard academic subjects or sports.
"The product we produce reaches way beyond trophies or the scoreboard," Smisek said. "It reaches the soul."