Carry the Tune

Gr 6 Up—This documentary offers a poignant plea to examine our nation's priorities and to make room for music in our lives again, even after high school. It points out that the current STEM emphasis in education comes at a cost. The new standards set the goal of making students ready for "college and career" but not for life. Music education now has to be justified. Music for music's sake is not quantifiable enough for the current educational mind-set. However, there are those who are finding their way back to the genuine pleasure of orchestra, choir, and ensemble participation in noncompetitive college venues and in community groups. These are highlighted in this heartfelt invitation to rediscover the satisfaction music can bring to one's life. The DVD includes a 20-minute classroom version that should be required viewing for all high school musicians heading off to college and for everyone else who remembers a time when music held an important place in their lives. It emphasizes that a student doesn't have to give up music to pursue other endeavors and that life is all the richer for its inclusion.