Arts matters:

Caught two arts-related items today – reminders of why young people's study of music (and exposure to music and other arts disciplines) is so valuable:

• National Endowment for the Arts 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts: http://tr.im/oHeq (via @GettyMuseum)
• Study of U.S. 8th graders finds student achievement in music & the arts “mediocre” [NYT]: http://bit.ly/1a4eVs8