Will LAUSD budget stop the music?

12-07-2009

By Connie Llanos/Los Angeles Daily News

For nine-year-old Ferran Romero, there is no sweeter sound than the boisterous bellows of his trombone. "It sounds like an elephant," Ferran said as he balanced the brass instrument, nearly his size. The fourth-grade student from Topeka Drive Elementary started playing the trombone last year thanks to a Los Angeles Unified program that brings music, dance, theater and art classes to every elementary school in the district. The program was launched by LAUSD 10 years ago as part of a district-wide effort to restore arts education at local schools. However LAUSD's current budget crisis threatens to undo much of the progress in arts education. Half of the district's 355 elementary arts and music teaching. Student Jeffrey Lee practices at Topeka Drive Elementary School. Under current budget plans, the LAUSD will be forced to cut half its 355 arts and music teachers for the 2010-11 school year, threatening programs at many schools that are already struggling to keep a band and orchestra going. (more...)

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Will LAUSD budget stop the music?

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