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We are in agreement that the basic ideals long expressed by the music education profession and other education professionals are still current: It is the right of every child to receive a balanced, comprehensive, sequential music education taught by qualified music teachers.
A healthy society requires musically fulfilled people. The primary purpose of education is not to create a workforce; it is to improve the quality of life for individuals and for society Although music education has been valued throughout history for its unique contributions, it is not yet universal in American schools.
Serious problems persist, including inequality of access, uneven quality of programs, and insufficient valuing of music as a pan of the curriculum. As a result, music is often pushed to the periphery of the school experience. In this centennial year of 2007, we reaffirm our longstanding...