i'm in the U.K., where most people use ARSBM.after reading a book in which an american flautist (who'd played for tenyears)couldn't read music, i wondered do you not do sight-reading in music grades 1-8? are those sort of exams even done over there? very peculiar. somebody help me!

We do not have any sort of a system like your ARSMB. Although there are some people over here who adhere to the ARSMB system, it is far and few between.

There used to be standards in the public school systems that required you know certain things to certain grades. However, that has been adulterated so much that now if you show up for band class you get an A just for being there - not like when I was in school.

And sight reading is one of the least taught things I know about - in the public schools, private schools, and private teachings. I require my private students to sight read and we talk about how to do it; but I don't know anyone else who does it.

It's very disappointing over here regarding the education surrounding music and any art for that matter.

You are absolutely right. Education in the arts in America is flagging.

This is going to be rambly.

I wonder where and when the change happened. My wife and I bring this up every now and then. When we were in junior and senior high school back in 1976 -1980, our school district put on a musical each summer. All the best kids tried to get involved in it, the best musicians,actors, dancers, stagehands, and craftspeople from all the schools tried to get in the summer class. This was a top notch first class production and many of us went on to do things in the professional world. Some of my freinds went on to be teachers and have asked me and others to come in and help because they have no students capable of doing the music; in the same district now they have combined this summer program with the ROP program and classes and it is sorely nothing like what is was.

Worse yet, as we go out and see 'professional' shows and events we are stunned, literally stunned sometimes at the poor quality and the lack of professionalism we see, the inability of dancers to dance in time, inability of musicians to play in tune much less play together, much less play with a good tone. It is difficult to believe that our summer productions were of a higher quality than quite a few professional productions today.

When I first started tecaching private lessons, every one of my students got a music scholarship to college; everyone even if their major wasn't music. Today I have private students who won't even know their scales when they have completed 3 or 4 years of study with me. The desire to do as well as they can is not there. The desire to understand the instrument and the ideas behind music are blank. Perhaps this is a phenomena on the West Coast. I understand from some freinds who are teachers in other states that some States, or counties within states require at least two years in the music program (either choral or instrumental) and as a result they do have very large music programs and CAN expect and require students to acheive.

Hmmmmm, do we think it is a temporary lull? Regardless, I can only imagine the audience level of understanding and appreciation has dulled. Is it just a cycle?

In my state, (UT) one must have 1.5 music credits in order to graduate from high school. There are myriad ways to get "credit", such as band, choir, music history, music theory, or general music, <shudder> for people with no musical talent at all.

What I have seen with my students is a genuine desire to get better...with occasional weeks where they get lazy and don't practice.

Our school only requires that we have 1 fine art credit to graduate. It can either be an art class or music, but many people choose the art class. Also, lots of people from our high school band quit after the first year they are in it, because they would have gotten the credit they needed, but don't want to put forth the effort to stay in band.

Education in the arts in America is flagging.

Whether it is or is not is utterly beside the point. The highly regimented UK system where everyone places the same pieces and everyone is fixated on "grades" sounds perfectly awful and unmusical to me.