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welcome to beyond the headlines, i'm chairing jennings. every week we focus on a different topic. we're talking about art in schools. according to a study down in 2007. 85% of the schools fail to offer a course study in art discipline which is visual arts and theater and dance. it short of the state's goal and today we'll hear about the impact our programs have on children and what is being done. joining us is in the studio is the artistic director of the oakland ballet and caitlin and lisa, dancers for the oakland ballet. i love the costumes. tell us about the partnership between the schools and bal will let. >> the ballet is 40 years old

and partnering with the schools in all sorts of ways, educational patrols. we start tomorrow with a group telling young people about the art form, the nutcracker when we start performing on the 23rd of december and also giving away 2,000 tickets to the community through the oakland unified school district. so it's really worthy collaboration. >> and you have two beautiful young ladies here, both of you are 14. what does it mean to you. >> thank you so much. it's exercise and it's helped me so much in my life and able to express myself. >> dancing is just everything to me. it's a way of getting exercise and expressing yourself and being around friends and being

creative. >> i dance with the bonbons in the nutcracker. >> and what brought you to oakland. you were a dancer yourself? >> that's right. i have been blessed through the my career. i was a director and it's a great privilege to work with young people and help direct them and help produce them. that is a wonderful opportunity. like i said, ballet is 40 years old. it's a significant leader of art in this community, and it's a great privilege to work with the board. we're going to be performing with the east bay symphony orchestra. >> that is so exciting. what is the big challenge for you on the dance floor? >> i believe it's understanding no matter who you are or what you look like you you do the

best you can do. >> how about you? >> i think it's staying hell had he think. some push themselves too hard because some get injured and that would be the worst thing. >> what would be doing if you weren't dancing? >> i have no idea. i can't imagine a life. it's a depressing start to imagine life without dancing. >> i would be a very deprived person. it's the fiber of my soul. >> what is the thing that attracted to you? >> one of my friends from kindergarten invited me and it was so creative and so freeing for me.

>> i definitely remember it, it was so much fun and i meant so many people and feeling free and move around. >> tell us about the performance >> its traditional story set in vienna, little girl given unusual gift. she has a cream and in that dream she is transported to a world of candy. so it's a very good story. >> and knowing the economy these days, to keep the programs going what would your request be? >> please support us, come and buy tickets, the tickets only cover about 60% of our costs support is vital. >> your biggest reward out of this? >> sharing this love since i

have, i started dancing when i was five years old and to share that with the community. >> can you say one thing, what would you say? >> please come and support us and follow your passion. >> the nutcracker is coming up soon? >> paramont theater starting a 23rd and tickets cost $15. >> we've got the invitation to be there. i've never seen it so this year i have to go. thank you all for being here. look forward to seeing it. and good luck with the science. >> we do have to take a break but when we come back we'll talk

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now in all pillsbury cinnamon rolls. welcome back to beyond the headlines, today we're talking about art and school and let's turn our attention to music. she is the executive director of music in schools in san francisco. i love your program. for those that don't know about it tell everybody at home. >> first of all, thanks for inviting us. it was founded in 1983 and it

serves about 15,000 children here and in the los angeles area. i think that makes us different from some other organizations because we're trying solve some of the issues, what is going to take to put music back in schools and keep it there and children out of school that will be happy in their personal life and business life that they are utilizing music. >> i'm familiar with the fund-raisers tell me how you integrate this? >> we use an approach music integration. it basically means you simple basic things that areneeded, and as kids get older, learn how to use music to teach other subjects. so we use it in math and science and social studies at the elementary school level. there are two kinds of programs.

most basic entry level program is just training a classroom instructor to teach during the day so we can incorporate it in the school. we have a learning laboratory, one called eldorado and one in los angeles. they are actually teaching music all through the year. it's completely integrated. all the teachers teach it and teaching artists working with them. >> that is an involved program. how did it get started? >> its funny story, back in 1980 the school board was goingate te eliminate the music program. some concerned citizens including some people from the city and people got together. they made a fabulous speech and

everybody stood up and gave them a standing a ovation and saved the music program. >> and it also helps kids that are at risk? >> absolutely. and we do it in community centers. basically we offer any kind of program that somebody wants to design. for at risks kids, we have a program and four-year study that shows that kids that took the intervention program did better grade points average and school attendance and incidents of violence was lower with the group that studied the music. >> so it makes a difference? >> it does. and focusing on issues of social development. we get kids to know who they are through music and hopefully

connect to the environment and teacher. its safe haven for them, especially in the after school time when some crimes occur but also identity. i think all kids need music to know how we are. so we just try to direct that so they can use learning is a positive place. >> it's creative and therapeutic and so many things. i have been to the fund-raisers which are a lot of fun. >> we have two events a year. next one is did golf tournament in april. then two signature events after that and we have something silicon valley rocks, lot lot of fun because people

working in corporations. i have to mention that don sanchez came one and one and he danced in the aisle. >> did he dance well? >> he danced extremely well. he was incredible. >> that is one way to get involved. >> go to our website or give us a call, if you wanted to start a program at your school or community center, we would like to help you do that. if you want to support one of our events as a volunteer, we can do that. we can put volunteers in the schools and if you have a special talent, this is to do it. >> all right. thank you so much. we do have to take another break. when we come back, we'll hear from a middle school music director and find out how xñxp

welcome back. i'm cheryl jennings. we just heard about the efforts of getting music in the schools and here is a chance to see a school band in action. these are the kids at edna middle school in oakland. take a listen. ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ wow! here is music director, they were great? >> they lead me, i have to tell you. >> they have fun and we get to

see it up close. what does it mean to them? >> i think music speaks from the soul and the students, the young people that are finding at a young age finding a way to be a part of a collective. i think a lot of times people think about music and the arts as a frill that serves a few people. these are like undeniable rights look food and water. >> and the connection between learning and music, too. how does the program work? >> it's full time in school. there is a part time teacher as well and after school programming. there were about ten years, dormant, but music was sidelined in oakland. there were huge cutbacks and measure "g" brought it back to the forefront. so we have three concert bands,

a jazz band that you saw, a chorus and glee club as well as ensemble project where students get experience. >> we have had to advocate a lot for ourselves, we had to build it up piece by piece. there is a huge support from the community and administration. what makes us different, we really try to reach everybody. i think a lot of schools where students are able to be a part of these things because there is money for it. we really try to make sure that everybody has equal access. >> and they want to be there? >> i think the students see them as a big part of a whole. i quiz my kids this morning before i came over to the studio

and students were saying about how much it brings from their heart to the place. it's like, to quote one of my students, its corridor of protection, they really feel safe. >> and identity? >> definitely. >> i've seen a lot of changes. there is a lot of violence in the community and kids who have seen a lot, a lot more strife than i have ever seen. the way that the music keeps them going, keeps their hearts glowing and a part of things. i've seen students that are failing in school and they don't want to come to school, when they have said, get out my saxophone gets me to school. i know those students are not only seeing the joys of their

own music but to come to school and get better grades. that is the connection that is really great. >> and when you are talking about this program you get a lot of it? >> there are days that takes a lot of me but it's incredibly rewarding to see the students growing every day, becoming better musicians and also the technical thing. it's about becoming better human beings. >> what would i ask for? >> i would like everyone in the school to be able to play music and express themselves creatively. >> we do have to take another break. we'll be back in just a moment? >> [ female announcer ] this is a strawberry pop tart...

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welcome back to beyond the headlines, we've been talking about art in schools. california schools are tapping into other sources and many are relying on parents and local businesses. reporter lyanne melendez looks at the partnership in fremont. >> how many does it takes to be bright and shiny? >> h teacher, a teacher, she property developer who helps students discover the art of ceramics. >> i will be able to give back to the children by having them come here. >> like so many school districts

fremont unified had to cut art and music programs. a civic leader for years, when his store was closing, he and his son thought of a way to help some of the local schools. >> my son said, we have so many, i don't like to see it closing down. >> three days later, they bought the shop and called the school district to offer students free ceramics lessons, it was a chance to give back to his community. for these second graders, to use their hands and minds. >> you can be very creative. >> school districts around california are realizing they can no longer afford these kinds of programs so they are relying on local businesses to help.

>> without that help i'm not sure it could have happened. >> students also learn about early chemistry and physics, the changes that occur when some things are fired. here are some of the letters he received and many people care about them and their education. in fremont, lyanne melendez, "abc 7 news." >> another example of how important it can be. joining studio is she is art and education from alameda. there is a bigger name. >> i'm here with alliance for art leadership out of the alameda county of education. >> what does that do? >> the alliance provides support for school districts, educators throughout the kind of an to make sure that people have

meaningful art experiences that is tough job. how do you do it? >> we try to get everyone involved. one of the things that is important for us is that the public understand how essentialr arts are for our classroom. it's not something we view as an additive or something that is nice to have if you have the time but really an essential part of creating a full and complete education for our children. so we work to change perception and we help to support teacher training development in the schools. >> that is a big, big job. >> absolutely. >> what kinds of arts are we talking about? >> we really like to look beyond discipline, arts, music, we likes literary arts media artsng, helping to shape children's education, help them tap in their creative spirit and

develop people. >> when the schools can't do it. how much of responsibility do parents have in this? >> they have an important role to play. parents are a child's first teacher and it's important that we that they have exposure of arts in the home. they wanted to see what the schools look like and hopefully include art. but also what role as a society to provide quality public education, complete public education and that includes the arts. you cited the statistics of the study at the top of the show, that means 89% of art schools are not doing a good job, but the equity issue that we need to

address. >> what about the big campaign coming up next year? >> every year we hold a month long celebration in the month of march, it's an opportunity for us to gather together and celebrate arts' role in the lives of students. we get to see several performances and we include other steps, platform for parents and community members to let our policy makers kn makerse want to protect funding for the arts. we want to make sure that arts are a part of the school day. we invite the community to participate with us. >> fantastic. thank you so much. thank you for what you are doing. we are out of time but we thank everybody that was on the program. that is it for this week's edition of beyond the headlines. find more on our website at

www.abc7.com. if you are looking nor community resources dial 211 for help. i'm cheryl jennings, we'll see you next time. xñxñxñxñxñxñxñxñxñ