“People all over the country are waking up to the vital role music plays in a young person’s development, but grass-roots efforts aren’t always enough,” says Linkin. “There’s a role for the federal government to play in this struggle, and I’m very grateful to Representatives McIntosh and Clement for taking an important step in that direction.”

The McIntosh resolution, H.CON.RES. 266, cites the “growing body of scientific research” that links music education to improved spatial-temporal reasoning and math performance, the evidence that music helps keep at-risk students in school, and increased SAT scores among music students. If the resolution is adopted by the House and Senate, it will become the official “sense of the Congress” that music education enhances intellectual development, fosters artistic and social success and enriches the academic environment for children of all ages.

The measure has been referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Rep. Goodling. McIntosh is also a member of the committee.

“Thanks to Congressman McIntosh, the value of music education is poised to become part of the public record, and Congress itself will join our efforts to bring music into every child’s life,” says Sykes.

Building on Sykes’ comments, Mahlmann also believes music should be part of every school’s core curriculum, not a frill. “There’s more evidence every day that music education has a beneficial ripple effect through the rest of a child’s academic and social life,” he says. “Music shouldn’t be any more optional than English or math. Making that a reality will be much easier if the people here on Capitol Hill are behind us.”

In a separate event McDonald and Taylor, along with Billy Joel, joined other music industry leaders at the nearby International Gallery of the National Museum of American History. Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the International Gallery was the location of the grand opening of a special exhibit celebrating the 300th anniversary of the piano.

Piano 300: Celebrating Three Centuries of People and Pianos includes a display of historically significant instruments, performances, broadcasts, publications, and educational programs. The Piano Division of Yamaha Corporation of America is one of the exhibition’s contributors. The display, now open to the public, will run through April, 2001.

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