As GeorgiA Music Industry grows, Woods Pushes for More Music Education Opportunities for Students

WABE | Georgia's music industry generates about $3.7 billion for the economy each year, and a new state law seeks to grow that number.

But a lot of people who work in the industry have come from Georgia's public schools, and many of those schools have cut back on – or even eliminated – music classes. The question, then, is whether the state's music industry can continue to thrive if school music programs don’t.

Georgia Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods said he's familiar with those studies Dorsett-Wilson mentioned.  He said arts education is important to education, the economy and society.


"Anytime you have fine arts community, it really sends a message about the heartbeat of the community,” Woods said.

But school budgets are tight. Woods said the state won't mandate more music in schools, but he said he’s exploring other ways to get it into the curriculum.

Read more: ​http://news.wabe.org/post/can-ga-music-industry-thrive-if-school-music-programs-dont