Let's get back to real music

(We do it well! Hazing in the news this past year may have put a dark cloud over the overall band culture, and has caused schools to re-look practices, but it doesn't change the accomplishments HBCUs have made and continue to make in music. This excerpt from a Chicago Now blog was published last week):

... Historically Black Colleges and Universities excel in teaching music and music theory. They do have bands that play today’s music. They do have teachers who concentrate on creating musical geniuses. They do focus on recruiting teenagers from high schools that have a strong band and music programs. Many of the graduates and individuals who have attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities are successful music executives and musicians today. Sean”P Diddy” Combs, Erykah Badu, Common, Yolanda Adams and Reuben Studdard just to name a few. Notice that difference in the musical acumen of each of artists. P Diddy is arguably one of the greatest to have ever promoted music. Erykah Badu has been compared to Billy Holiday for her unique voice and her music style. Common is one of the greatest lyricists in Hip Hop. Yolanda Adams is responsible for the re-birth of Gospel Music scene. Finally, Reuben Studdard has one of the greatest singing voices of all time that of which is comparable to Luther Vandross.

Yet if it wasn’t for the ability of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities to open the glass ceiling of musical creativity we may not even have had the opportunity to accept their pool of genius into our lives. ... 

If you would like to read the full blog by D.J. Fink that talks about why it's important not to let the arts take a back seat to XBOX, starting as early as elementary school, visit http://www.chicagonow.com/real-music/2012/08/we-have-to-find-a-way-to-keep-music-in-all-levels-of-the-school-systems-unfortunately-that-will-still-not-fix-the-problem/