Want to become another barbarian nation like Iran or China? There’s one way to do it. Our next generation of professional conductors, opera singers, and instrumentalists for orchestras won’t be coming out of high school ready to step into the pit, and a single class a semester isn’t remotely enough to train up future professionals.
I considered going to college as a music major (flute - performance) but realized I wasn’t remotely the caliber musician to do so, nor was I willing to put in the sort of work to become one. Add that on to the fact I was too painfully shy to consider anything where I might actually be heard (a jazz band or soloist rather than an orchestra)...
Russia is rearming, China is working on expanding her arsenal and the Islamo-fascists are spreading around the globe. Meanwhile our kiddies prepare to star on American Idol and make videos for your tube and my space. Guess we'll look good working in the barbarians fields and painting pictures at night in our mud huts. We will simply agree to disagree on the importance of arts and crafts.