Stresses the importance of music and other arts in the core curriculum of public schools, noting necessary features of school music programs. Examines many of the reasons why music and arts are being pushed toward the periphery of public education and discusses what parents can do to reverse the direction. (SM)

Discusses parents' roles in introducing music to children before birth, in infancy, and throughout childhood. Children need encouragement to listen, enjoy, and explore sounds, music, and rhythm. Schools must continue the process of music education. The article includes a discussion of how parents can tell if schools are successfully exposing…