The essential component of every music program should be a general music course, for, in this time of retrenchment, the long range goal of music education should be to initiate a lifetime of musical fulfillment for students. A performance program should also be emphasized. (RM)

In separate articles, the authors urge administrators to carefully consider what is essential to education before making budget cuts. Both articles are speeches delivered at the 1981 American Association of School Administrators convention in Atlanta. (Editor/SJL)

Title V of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 affects the Arts in Education Program by consolidating arts funding into general state-level block grants. The authors discuss some implications of this bill for local music educators. (Part of a theme issue on the crisis in music education.) (Author/SJL)

Discusses the need to promote school music programs. Includes a checklist for testing a music program's promotional effectiveness. Suggests using public relations (PR) to reduce the risk of music program cuts before they occur. Recommends setting and determining the means of achieving PR goals. Identifies the benefits of effective PR. (SG)

Discusses five maladies, in addition to current educational budget cuts, from which K-12 music education is suffering and offers strategies to help music departments establish priorities regarding changes and cuts to make. (AM)

Suggests 12 ways that band, orchestra, and chorus directors can stretch tight budgets through careful purchase and administration of instruments, music, and supplies. (SJL)

Emphasizes the need for music teachers to defend school music programs. Suggests developing advocacy objectives in the areas of communication, visibility, and classroom follow-through. Argues that children's cultural heritage and musical future are at risk if further cutbacks in music education programs are not avoided. (SG)

Because of dwindling financial resources, the doctoral program in music may be in jeopardy. Four options for the doctorate are examined: expand it, maintain it, reduce it, or discontinue it. Steps that must be taken to assure that a high quality music doctoral program continues are presented. (RM)

Ideas for maintaining and advancing the K-12 music program during these times of tight money are described. (RM)

Stuart Ling reports from his tour of exemplary music programs that many teachers are overcoming the common logistical and economic problems of this time of retrenchment. Donald Nitz is more pessimistic, asserting that music education is clinging to a tenuous status quo after the bright promise of the 1960s. (SJL)

In this introductory article to a theme issue, the author discusses the impact of budget cuts, shrinking enrollment, the teacher's declining public image, and the fragmentation of the music industry and the music education field. On the positive side he describes two cases where community pressure prevented music program cuts. (SJL)

A parent and the music supervisor from the Ridgewood Public Schools in New Jersey describe how parents formed the Friends of Music association to provide moral and some financial support to the district's music education program. (Part of a theme issue on the crisis in music education.) (SJL)

Twenty state music supervisors responded to a questionnaire soliciting their views on trends in music education through the 1980s. Responses included: cutbacks in elementary general music, trends toward "arts in education" programs, and continuing financial straits. Implications for music teacher education are drawn. (SJL)

Because they feel that music educators should be aware of general educational trends, the authors present an overview, with statistics, of two of education's most pressing problems: declining enrollments and higher costs. (JL)

The major purpose of this discussion is to project future consequences of public education resulting from the current wave of taxpayer revolts. More specifically, a scenario for the 1980s is described that includes eight specific trends that will gain impetus from the Proposition 13 syndrome. (Author)