OKLAHOMA CITY – Tulsa area sixth-graders are enthusiastic about their school orchestra programs. As one student cellist puts it “I really love it. Hearing the sound when all the parts come together and I’m right in the middle of it gives me chills.“ But across the state, in the panhandle, a student who wants to be part of an orchestra isn’t likely to have the chance. One student laments, “I wish I lived in a different area where I’d have the chance to play music.” These are comments made by Oklahoma school children who took part in a comprehensive survey on music education in the state.
A report released today shows that student access to music in Oklahoma public schools is widespread, but the types and number of courses varies widely from region to region and district to district. Oklahoma state school superintendant, Sandy Garrett commented, “Music is part of our core curriculum and should be available to every student. This report will help us look at ways to provide more student access to a wider variety of music courses.”
