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Heavy Hitters For Music Education

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Bernie Williams, four-time World Series Champion, with record batting averages during his 16-year Yankee career, has become an ambassador for music education. Now a jazz guitarist, Williams, who learned to play at a performing arts magnet school, is on Capitol Hill.

Williams and others are lobbying Congress to give more leeway to the Education Department, because the federal across-the-board budget cuts, which took effect in March, are expected to slice $725 million in Title 1 funds, which would help teach music to low income kids.

He claims that the discipline, humility, relentlessness and perseverance, timing and rhythm learned in playing scales and preparing for performances, were helpful in baseball - a game full of strikeouts.

Joined by rock-star drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chad Smith, claiming that music saved him from dropping out, they're trying to convince federal lawmakers that music education is far from frivolous.

Read more in The Washington Post.

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