Learning More Than Just Books

Back to school is right around the corner, but the schoolhouse isn`t all about reading, writing and arithmetic. Some educators are trying to keep it about playing and singing. The Arkansas Bandmasters Association Convention wrapped up in Little Rock Saturday morning. The convention included last night`s performace from the Joso Gakuin High School Symphonic Band from Japan. The band`s conductor, Tomoo Motozu shares the opinion of some Arkansas Bandmasters--that having music in schools is important to teach children about expression. Some students say they do it just for fun. Whehter or not they choose to make music a profession later on, teachers say music lessons now can turn into life lessons later. "Why do you have curtains on your windows? Why do you have pictures in your house? It`s to enhance your lifestyle," says Chuck Booker, director of bands at University of Arkansas, Fort Smith. "It helps me to express my heart and the audience listens to my own idea or thought through music," says Emi Satoh, one of the Japanese band students. Some teachers also say music is a lot more than art, it enhances communication, social, and cognitive skills for students.