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Entry: The Death of Music by the Spirit of Government Subsidies Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/the_death_of_music_from_the_spirit_of_government_subsidies#15759 Post contents: The real problem with the 'public' schools is that they are not really public -- we pay for them, but can only access them on authoritarian terms. My kids didn't go (their choice) until middle school. I wasn't into music back then, so they didn't get too much exposure (I was still subconsciously healing from my own early music lessons), but they did get a very thorough classical ballet education. I must say that our school district offers a much better high school education than I got in the early 1970's. My recipe for schools would be something like this -- the early grades are optional, and there is the equivalent of a one-room schoolhouse on just about every corner. Hours are flexible and parental involvement is welcome. 'Middle school' would be the equivalent of about fifth through eighth or ninth grades. Then kids would have the option of further academia, specialization in music, etc. or apprenticeship to a trade. Oh, and by the way, when we glorify the classical composers, don't forget most of us totally would not want to live in those eras. Imagine the state of dentistry, etc. Perhaps that kind of music cannot be realized in our current world -- they understood all too well the dichotomy between what they were writing and the lives they were living. I hope that the next wave of artists is (finally) women who are no longer subjugated to producing "the next Mozart" or whoever. Sent at: 2008 07 05