The Saskatchewan Music Educators Association (SMEA) and Province of Saskatchewan have declared Sept. 13 as Music Education Day in Saskatchewan.
Kayleigh Skomorowski, a Prince Albert music teacher and member of the SMEA, said the goal is to remind the public that musical learning is an important part of a good education.
”Sometimes music education is seen as an extra, as a nice thing but not seen as essential,” Skomorowski said. “Having a day, right around Canada’s start of the school year, where we can have conversations about the value of music education in schools and music education for all children in the province of Saskatchewan is to help keep the importance of those programs on the forefronts of both the parents as well as the school board when they are facing tough choices.”
Last year the SMEA conducted on air interviews was part of the program to further create awareness about the importance of music education. Skomorowski said they plan to do some promotions on social media and within public spaces to get people talking about why music education is important.
“It’s about conversations and visibility,” she explained.
Research has proven numerous benefits of music and the positive role it can have on students. The SMEA said students who participate in music education programs stay engaged in school, set and achieve goals, improve their language and reading skills, enhance their coordination, and develop critical thinking skills.
“This is a day we celebrate the important work that music educators perform in the province as well as the tremendous benefits that music brings to students and the rest of society,” SMEA President Sharon Bates said in a press release. “The work that music educators conduct ensures that people of all ages and abilities can participate in music programs.”
The provincial government also through their support behind the SMEA, and their efforts to promote music education.
“The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes music education as a valuable aspect of a child’s educational process. Music education enhances academic performance, social skills, creativity, self-expression, confidence, discipline and teamwork,” Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill said in a press release. “I would like to thank the Saskatchewan Music Educators Association for promoting the development of high standards of music and showing our students that music education is more than just learning music – It is learning through music.
SMEA is a charitable, non-profit cultural association that was incorporated in 1957. It acts as the voice for music educators, promoting the development of high standards of music and music education in Saskatchewan. SMEA is committed to supporting music education in the province and is recognized as a “Professional Growth Network” for music education by the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation.
editorial@paherald.sk.ca
