Encouragement and Concerns: Arts, Music and Public Education

A February Interview with Chris Clark

Chris Clark, CEO Smart Foundation

Chris, what do you see that you are encouraged about concerning Music and Arts in the community?

I am very thankful that there are so many parents who value the arts for their children and support their participation in arts program. I think it’s wonderful that they see the value of arts and music for development creativity skills.

It is great to see so many school PTAs who commit and raise support for music programs on their campus. Their work is invaluable for continuing the work of music and arts at a local campus.

And Chris, are there any issues that are particularly concerning to you as we move into 2013?

Gov. Jerry Brown

There is a new law passed that affects local school programs. On January 1, 2013 Governor Brown signed AB 1575 into law. It will have a very significant affect on local schools; including arts and music programs.

This new law specifically prohibits imposing fees, charges or deposits by K-12 public and charter schools in California. These schools will now be required to offer equal activities either to every student free of charge or to none.

AB1575 creates a number of changing issues for public education. As an advocate for increasing opportunities for music, art, innovation and creativity here in Southern California, I want to help communicate with parents and supporters monthly so you can be informed about changing circumstances for our children within our education system.

Do Schools Kill Creativity?

This is the title of Sir Ken Robinson’s famous TEDTalk from 2006. It has been viewed by more than 80,000,000  people over the last 7 years. 

If the statement “Schools Kill Creativity” sounds new and outlandish to you, I understand. It’s still settling in for me too. I’m a fairly analytical type so I want to see some evidence. If you share my discomfort with the statement, take 20 minutes and listen to Sir Ken’s YouTube presentation.

Here’s further evidence that’s thought provoking. According to a recent Adobe creativity study (published on Dec 7, 2012), “88% of U.S. professionals believe that creativity should be built into standard curricula. Companies are looking for more than graduates who can do specific tasks; they want employees who can also think differently and innovate. To be successful, students need an education that emphasizes creative thinking, communication and teamwork.”

So Sir Ken Robinson has spoken well and 80 million have watched him. That’s impressive. But what’s his bio look like. His bio is found here. It is impressive. Further, he’s published as well on the topic too. Here's where his books and materials are listed.

Here are 5 points he makes about Schools Killing Creativity

1. Why don’t we get the best out of people? Sir Ken Robinson argues that it’s because we’ve been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers. Students with restless minds and bodies – far from being cultivated for their energy and curiosity – are ignored or even stigmatized, with terrible consequences, “We are educating people out of their creativity,” Robinson says.
2. Our only hope for the future is to adopt a new conception of the human economy. One in which we reconstitute our conception of the richness of human capacity.
3. Our Education system has mined our minds in the ways we strip mine the earth for a particular commodity. And for the future it won’t service. We have to rethink the fundamental principles on which we are educating our children.
4. We must keep in focus the gift of the human imagination. We need to be careful to use this gift wisely and to avert the problems we are currently seeing.
5. We need to see our creative capacities for the richness they are and see our children for the hope that they are. Our task is to educate their whole being so that they can face the future and make something of it.

Do you recognize in your own children, grandchildren, neighbors, or friends this problem of a scarcity of opportunity for growing creativity in school?

Do you see how this is an intersecting conflict for our culture?

Do you think this will create a lasting impact for job and career opportunity?

Will this problem turn around with a little more time or will we need to get involved?

The SMART Foundation’s mission is to bring opportunity for arts and music to help build opportunities for creativity and innovation so that children can make something of their future for their sake and ours. Our hope is to create a dialog toward a response of love and action. We invite you to join us and participate with our action. This can happen with your time as a volunteer, or support financially.

All children are born Artists. The problem is to remain an artist as we grow up.  – Picasso

The LA Daily Journal Features Our SMART Jazz Execs

The Los Angles Daily Journal published an article on Dec 31 featuring the SMART Jazz Execs. The title of the article is “Lawyers are Stretching Themselves for Charity.” The bass player within the group, Alejandro Angulo and the guitarist, Geoffrey Glass share about their interest in music in this article and its value for them in their personal lives.

"Music was Available (for me) in School"

The Journal writes, “The Jazz Execs” isn’t just a clever name – the band is comprised of half business executives and half legal professionals, including Judge Geoffrey Glass of the Orange County Superior Court, who has played guitar for more than 40 years. He said his support for the Smart Foundation comes from his own experience with music and the arts as a schoolboy. ‘The only reason I play an instrument is because it was available at school. If you put an instrument in kids’ hands, it might keep them from putting bad thing in their hands.’” 

The Value of Music for a Litigator

The Smart Foundation teaches that creativity is good and can be beneficial in whatever you do. Angulo states explicitly that he believes music makes him a better lawyer. “

As a litigator, music has helped me learn how to hold things together when everything seems to be falling apart.”

SMART Jazz Execs are Glad to Give Back

The members of the SMART Jazz Execs each share the same clear understanding that music and arts were formational for their expertise and profession. It is this value that leads them to gladly give back their time and musical abilities to in our cause to help others to have the same opportunity. They are living examples of the results of the critical part music and arts play in educational foundation and development. 

What We Are Fighting to Accomplish

This is the SMART cause that we are fighting to make possible for the At-Risk children here in Orange County. Please consider joining our cause and donate now. Read more about our recent guitar classes at the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana here. 

A financial gift can be given online here. It is because of regular ongoing support monthly that makes our plans possible to bring music and art to the At-Risk children in Orange County.

The Music Background and Involvement of SMART CEO, Chris Clark

In a conversation this month Chris Clark shared about his personal involvement as a musician and the motivation for beginning the SMART Foundation. 

Chris, you are the CEO for the SMART Foundation. Some may not be aware of your music experience. What is your music background?

Chris: I have been a professional trombone player for over 25 years, having performed with groups such as the Temptations, 10,000 Maniacs and Toni Tennille. I served as a music coach in the Saddleback, Capistrano and Irvine schools districts since 1987, and have been the Jazz Director at Newhart Middle School since 2006. I also served as the Assistant Director for the Saddleback Church Orchestra from 1989 to 2005.

When did you start begin the SMART Foundation?

Chris: I started SMART (Support Music & Arts) in 2000. It is a CA 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

What passion stirred in you that moved you to begin the nonprofit organization?

Chris: I saw the need for funding and advocacy support for school music programs through business partnerships, social enterprise projects and cause related marketing opportunities.

What goal did you have in mind with SMART?

Chris: The goal of the SMART Foundation is to make sure music and arts remains a part of our children’s education because it develops the creative, innovative and imagination skills in graduates sought by 21^st century companies.

Are there other community and advocacy interests and involvements you participate?

Chris: There are a number of important boards and opportunities that I participate. These allow me to continue pushing forward this important mission. I see that collaborating with other similar organizations is critical for mutual and teamwork in the fight for music, arts and opportunities for the increasing number that will not have this experience as part of their education. Here’s a list of my community involvements.

VSA CA, Board Member

Support Music Coalition, Member

CA Alliance for Arts Education, Member

Orange County Music Administrators, Member

Southern California Leadership Network, Fellow

Convene, Member

Saddleback Church, Christian Counselor


written by Mike Hatcher

SMART Foundation Begins “Mission Viejo Jazz Factory”

The SMART Foundation is beginning a community program this month to develop Middle School musicians by playing in an Ensemble called Mission Viejo Jazz Factory.

The class begins Wednesday, January 23rd from 6-8P and will continue on Wednesday evenings until May 22nd. The class includes 6-8^th graders each Wednesday evening. Classes will be held in Mission Viejo at the Potocki Center. Location of the Potocki Center is 27301 La Paz Rd, Mission Viejo, CA 92692.

Students will learn to play multiple jazz styles including Rock, Funk, Blues, Latin and Swing. Local jazz professionals including Tony Guerrero and Saddleback Jazz Director Joey Sellers will provide clinics.

The class instructor will be Chris Clark. Chris is the CEO for SMART and has a professional background as a trombone player. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge about instrumental jazz. He also leads the SMART Jazz Execs group that performs at events to help support the SMART Foundation. More about Mr. Clark’s music background is available to read here (link).

This is a unique opportunity for students. You can register online here.

Music Leads to Creativity and Innovation

TEDS presentations bring the globes leading thinkers to a platform available to everyone (ted.com). In his TEDS presentation Robert Gupta shares his experience as a symphony violinist as an example of music leading to creativity and innovation. He explains the scientific healing influence with some of the most significant cases where medicine alone comes short. Here are some excerpts from the presentation. The presentation may be heard in entirety here.

The Power of Music Therapy

When Robert Gupta was caught between a career as a doctor and as a violinist, he realized his place was in the middle, with a bow in his hand and a sense of social justice in his heart. He tells a moving story of society's marginalized and the power of music therapy, which can succeed where conventional medicine fails.

“Music is even more than oxygen to me -- it is a passion.”

Music Therapy works within the right hemisphere of the brain to rewire and compensate for damage in the left side of the brain. Just listening to music lights up the brain from prefrontal cortex to the cerebellum. Music is becoming the new psychiatric modality for those with Autism, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and sufferers of sever stress and anxiety.

The romantic composer Robert Schuman said, “to send light into the darkness of men’s hearts such is the duty of the artists.” This is particularly poignant because Schuman suffered from schizophrenia and died in an asylum.

Music Touches the Brain as Medicine

What we are finding with those a lowest point physically and emotionally is that music touches the brain just as medicine, it transcends and connects. Music is the bridge of communication where words fail. Music is about a communication that registers at a fundamental primary level. Music touches what is hard wired into the right hemisphere of the brain.

The famous author John Keats, who also gave up a career in medicine, said, “beauty is truth and truth beauty. That is all you know on earth and all you need to know.”

Half of Orange County's Children Lack a Music Opportunity

The SMART Foundation seeks to both inform our local society and provide opportunity for those that lacking the availability of music and art. We want to help those who will miss out on this critical piece of life education during the formative young years. This need touches many more than you might think. Half of Orange County's children (500,000) come from homes with such significant financial need that they receive the Federal relief for both breakfast and lunch at school. 

Read more about our cause and consider joining our fight with your financial support.

Written for The SMART Foundation by Mike Hatcher