A Library Card and a Musical Instrument

There is more to music education than meets the average eye.  In the book Lighting Their Fires by Rafe Esquith, we

find some intriguing thoughts.

In response to the question “Why is music education important?” he answers, “Children don’t seem to be paying attention as well as they once did.” 

There is a corollary between the physiological mechanics and the human skill development when you include some kind of musical training. 

Mr. Esquith continues: 

“When a child plays music, they are learning about something that has nothing to do with music.  They are learning about focus, about listening to others, about making mistakes and correcting them.  All of my musicians do better in math, science and all other areas of school once they start playing music.”

And in a great summation, he says, “Give your student a library card and a musical instrument and your child is set for an extraordinary life.”

 Order Lighting Their Fires HERE

Carolyn Biggs

Steps and Skips

Tips for the Developing Student

The Food of Love

"If music be the food of love, play on."

~Rafe Esquith

Okay...please bear with me for a brief moment while I climb on my soapbox. 

Somehow, our educational system has determined that when money is tight the easiest thing to erase from the budget is creative arts...music, drama, visual.  (It often becomes an "elective" - which means students have to choose to extend their school hours in order to participate).  When that happens the implications deeply impact every student in it’s' wake.

I'm off now.

I picked up a new book this week; Lighting their Fires, by

Rafe Esquith.  It is inspiring and renewing my love for teaching music.  Perhaps you've heard of it.  

Mr. Esquith, a fifth grade elementary school teacher (of 25 years), is having a tremendous influence on the students he teaches.  His methods are not according to the whims of educational administrators.  But his passion for helping kids learn core life skills is transformational.  And, by the way, he believes much of that learning occurs through the arts. 

I LOVE that.

So, hopefully there's enough summer reading time left to fit in one more book.  I believe it will provoke important thought and conversation on behalf of those amazing children you nurture daily.

That's the beauty of art--we strive 

for perfection  but never achieve it.

The journey is everything.

                                                                 Rafe Esquith   

Carolyn Biggs

Order Your Copy HERE