A group of educators, business people, parents, legislators and arts advocates have banded together to promote well-rounded education in Utah that includes music and arts courses in both elementary and secondary schools.
Coalition members are Ardean Watts, Utah Arts Council; Jesse Greathouse, Utah Student Tours; Janet Colvin, Utah Music Teachers Association; Ed Asmus, University of Utah; Edith Reed, National Piano Teachers Federation; Skip Daynes, Daynes Music; Phil Carnivales, Riverton Music; Bruce Woodward, Keith Jorgensen's; Dean Almond and Jack Turner, Summerhays Music.Co-chairmen are Leanna Willmore, Utah Music Educators Association, and Larry Chandler, Keith Jorgensen's Music.
The group believes Utah schoolchildren are being shortchanged in their music education. The state ranks next to last in the nation in music teacher/student ratio. A national movement to emphasis the value of arts education parallels the Utah effort.
Each school district will be encouraged to bring the campaign to the local level, where curriculum and budget decisions are made.