Don’t let your music fade away | Letters | May 8

Array

As we go through our daily routine, we tend to forget how much music is a part of our daily lives.

In the morning, imagine if the buzzing of your alarm clock was the only sound you heard, with no pleasing melodies to follow.

What if there was no music on your car radio or iPod.

What if the only sounds you heard on your TV were spoken words and the theater and movies had no songs or sound tracks?

But we don’t have to worry about this because music will always be a part of our lives. Or will it?

This economy is hurting us all and the arts often seem to be the first target for cuts.

Why should this be? Is it because we think a musician “plays” his instrument or an artist paints just for the fun of it? If we do, then we are making a big mistake. Music is a fundamental part of our human makeup and without it we lose an important part of who we are.

We need music, now more than ever. Cuts need to be made but please don’t take the arts as something frivolous that can easily be dispensed with when times are hard.

I think we would all agree that music is important but often we take it for granted and assume that it will always be for us to enjoy.

We need to support music and art in the schools and all aspects of our children’s education.

It is a proven fact that learning to play an instrument is very beneficial to a child’s development and can help them with logical thinking, speech, crossing over into areas such as science and math as well as contributing to self-esteem and the ability to communicate clearly.

On a personal level, music can take you away to somewhere else for a few minutes; a reprise from your hectic life.

Many of us are trying to buy local and support local businesses and I hope that we can apply those same guidelines to the arts as well.

The island Music Guild celebrates its 10th birthday this year and has provided quality music education as well as a variety of musical services to our community.

We would like to invite our community to take a look at what the Island Music Guild school has to offer.

We have opportunities for all levels of students from beginning instrumental and voice lessons to adult classes; recitals, evening concerts, recording facilities plus four exciting summer camps.

As with any nonprofit we need your support to continue to offer these services.

I hope that each of you will ask yourself the question, “How does music affect my life?’ If music is important to you we would appreciate your support.

If you are already supporting us, then thank you, thank you, thank you!

Pat Strange,

Board of Directors

Island Music Guild