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

(ahem) Financial instruments:

Story from TIME today: String Theory: Investing in High-End Violins.

An updated study of classical-instrument valuations shows that “violins may be among the most stable of investments.”

Music matters:

Anyone who is interested in the impact of music on our lives will be moved by this stirring address delivered by pianist Karl Paulnack to the parents of entering freshmen at the Boston Conservatory: http://bit.ly/Rl7Hc (hat tip to @JOHNABYRNE)