Why the Arts Matter—Now More Than Ever
Commentary on a USA Today essay by Wynton Marsalis and Drew Faust
As the new year invites both reflection and goal-setting, acclaimed jazz musician Wynton Marsalis and Harvard University President Drew Faust offer a compelling case for why arts education should be central—not peripheral—to how we prepare students for the future.
In their USA Today opinion piece, Marsalis and Faust challenge the dominant narrative that education should focus solely on job-readiness. They argue that in a world where many of tomorrow’s careers don’t yet exist, creativity, adaptability, and collaboration will be the real currency of success. Their solution? Invest in the arts.
They write:
“Music stresses individual practice and technical excellence, but it also necessitates listening to and working with others in fulfillment of the requirements of ensemble performance.”
In particular, they highlight jazz as a model for learning, where individual expression exists within the shared purpose of swing—a balance of assertiveness and compromise, risk and harmony.
The arts, they emphasize, build critical life skills: risk-taking, persistence, empathy, and communication. Whether students are painting, dancing, acting, or learning an instrument, they’re developing habits that will serve them in any future endeavor.
At Grosse Pointe Music Academy, we couldn’t agree more. We see every day how music students grow—not just in skill, but in confidence, creativity, and collaboration. The arts don’t just teach—they transform.
📚 Read the full essay by Marsalis and Faust on USA Today.
🎶 Interested in arts education for yourself or your child? Learn more about our programs at Grosse Pointe Music Academy.
Shared by Grosse Pointe Music Academy – proudly supporting music and arts education in Metro Detroit.
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