Teach Music (and Save a Songwriter)

* Re “We Killed Music, Now We Take the Rap,” Jan. 9 Orange County Voices:

I have suspected for many years that the decline in the musicality of popular music is due to the decline in music education.

As a former music teacher who was laid off once and threatened several other times due to cancellation of the music program, I know where music stands in the perceived importance category.

I now make my living composing music for high school concert bands. I realize I could have been much more productive in such scientific endeavors as building better implements of war, better machines to cut down the forests faster, better cell phones so more people could cut me off while driving.

Science is fine for some, but a balance has to be there for people like me who have never had a desire nor an ability to become a rocket scientist.

Instead, I chose a career that I have a particular talent for, that doesn’t hurt anyone and creates beauty in the world (a possible exception being some sopranos and Irish tenors).

I’m thankful for that opportunity. I wish every student at least had that opportunity.

If schools don’t teach architecture, we end up with architects who think Quonset huts are really cool. If schools don’t teach science, we end up with doctors who prescribe mostly chicken soup (and live in Quonset huts). If schools don’t teach music, we end up with rap.

We also end up with not enough high school concert bands to play my music. (I mention this last part only as an example of how this also affects the economy, and not, of course, for my own selfish purposes.)

TOM LAZZARICH

Mission Viejo