Music education stressed in March 10 concert broadcast

If you’re in tune with the notion that music is the heart of education, then you’re in harmony with millions of people around the world. An annual worldwide concert is bringing music to the ears of music lovers from about 175 countries.

Aptly named "The World’s Largest Concert (WLC)," the WLC was created by the National Association for Music Education (MENC) to celebrate the important role music plays in a child’s education.

The event connects members of school communities throughout the world and is meant to remind people of the importance of music education.

"A quality music education program should be at the core of every child’s educational experience, at all levels of their development," said MENC president David Circle. "This concert is an excellent tool for sharing this message within the classroom and within the community."

The Positive Role of Music

Studies have shown that after eight months of keyboard lessons, preschoolers showed a 46 percent boost in their spatial reasoning IQ. In addition, it has been shown that studying music has a positive effect on students’ self-confidence, socialization, discipline and ability to focus.

The Big Show

This year’s WLC program’s theme is "Music: The Heart of Education." The concert will include music with an Americana flavor. It will feature such classics as "Home on the Range" as well as patriotic favorites including "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Orchestral arrangements, vocal music, and piano accompaniments for the concert are available free online, and WLC audiences around the world will sing and play along with the featured performers from classrooms, gymnasiums and community centers around the world.

The WLC will be broadcast on Thurs., March 10 on PBS and the American Forces Television Network; check local listings for time. A teacher’s guide is available at the website, www.menc.org/guides/wlc/tg05/TeachersGuide.html.

MENC’s activities include other initiatives to raise awareness of the value of music education, such as the National Anthem Project and MusicFriends. For more information, visit www.menc.org.

Story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.