Carol Anne Costa: Potenza: “The Voice” of Democracy!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Carol Ann Costa GoLocalProv MINDSETTER

 

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Sarah Potenza

If democracy has a voice, me thinks it sounds a lot like Sarah Potenza. For those who do not know, Sarah Potenza is the very cool, white eyeglass wearing gal from Smithfield, RI who took NBC’s “The Voice” by storm. I know she has since relocated, but as we all know… once from RI always from RI.  Her Joplinesque style and powerful musical expressions had Rhode Island and much of the United States on its feet, and in her “Team Blake” corner. Although, she was eliminated (don’t blame me, I voted), her talent, passion and gift beamed through like a comet on which the ocean state grabbed hold of and went for a most amazing and melodious ride.

By the way, did you catch the best cover of Free Bird  No worries, I can judge that legitimately, as I graduated Ponaganset High School in 1978 and the 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash was a shock to the teenage system even reverberating into our “Tomahawk”Yearbook, as a mark in time. To say that the kids of Ponaganset “class of 78” were wearing out our needles while spinning the new yet posthumous release and every other Lynyrd Skynyrd single would be an understatement. Do you remember how fond you were of your record player? I do, sorry I digress. So you, Sarah from Smithfield  -  did Little Rhody proud, and that is unequivocal.  As not to trample on my colleague, Ken Abrams’s territory, this is not a music review.  What it is, is a take on the Sarah from Smithfield’s voice lent mightily to the process we call democracy. 

Raise Your Voices

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Nothing tickles me more than an issue or issues which gets the attention of people, pokes at the electorate and raises the ire and the voices of the citizenry. And, what better voice than that of Sarah Potenza to get right down in the grassroots by weighing in on the issue of potential cuts to the music programs in her beloved  hometown of Smithfield, Rhode Island? As a Sentinel alum, apparently the threat of cuts to the music program which helped her to find her own passion moved Ms. Sarah to take that mighty voice to speak truth to power.  As she trained her eyes through her trend setting eyeglasses on the town's lawmakers she explained, "In the 90s, the music department was my entire world. It was hard to be a kid who didn't excel in math or science or sports. I never felt good about myself until I became part of the music department. It made me feel that there was a place for someone like me."  Stating further, “Cutting this department, Smithfield would be reinforcing that stigma and sending the message that dreaming is for fools. These kids deserve better. No one knows where their dreams will take them. These kids deserve to find out."  Hmm, maybe even to a top rated network TV program showcasing musical talent, or a sellout crowd eager to hear a musical performer the likes of Potenza.  #dreamsdriveeffort

Clearly, few school committees and/or municipalities desire to make program cuts, but it begs bigger questions; why is funding for the arts in public schools constantly on the chopping block?   And, why does it take the threat of cuts to these vital programs to get people involved in the process? The time is now to get out of the “cutting your kid’s passion” style of budgeting. Our public schools need comprehensive,adaptive and innovative curriculum incorporating musical arts, visual arts, and performing arts, as well as athletic and advanced academic programs which enrich, motivate and inspire our children. The time for trading Mozart for math must end. The folks we elect to office need to hear loud and clear and in the key of E (for everyone) that  public schools,  in order to serve the greater good must serve all children in their care and that service should be pitch perfect.    

In the Words of Wynton

I find it appropriate to quote Wynton Marsalis, “We always hear about the rights of democracy, but the major responsibly of it is participation.” Those artsy kids are pretty smart. After all, they speak the 2nd language of music. If you don’t believe me, believe these facts brought to you by dosomething.org:

·         Students who study art are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and 3 times more likely to be awarded for school attendance.

·         Arts and music education programs are mandatory in countries that rank consistently among the highest for math and science test scores, like Japan, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

·         Music programs are constantly in danger of being cut from shrinking school budgets even though they're proven to improve academics.

·         Federal funding for the arts and humanities rolls in around $250 million a year, while the National Science Foundation is funded around the $5 billion mark.

·         Researchers find that sustained learning in music and theater correlates strongly with higher achievement in both math and reading.

·         In a study of a high-poverty schools in Chicago, the schools that were participating in the Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) made huge strides in closing the gap between high- and low-income students’ academic achievement.

·         Multiple studies have concluded that curricular and extracurricular art studies and activities help keep high-risk dropout students stay in school.

·         New brain research shows that not only does music improve skills in math and reading, but it promotes creativity, social development, personality adjustment, and self-worth.

·         Research suggests that studying a second language (music included)  is essential to the learning process, creative inquiry and critical thinking.

DO –RE-MI

The Do- Re- Mi should never be tied to the “$dough$”- re- mi (borrowed from Arlene Violet). If you doubt my contention, simply listen to Plato, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” 

Thank you, Sarah Potenza! Thank you for taking your valuable time, for coming back home, for weighing in, for advocating for music funding, as your voice is as powerful in this discussion as it was on national TV. I only hope your amazing voice, has started a movement, a movement that inspires people not only to fight for music funding but, more to get involved. Oh and by the way, what is with these women from Smithfield, RI they seem to be pretty powerful voices. Sarah, you may want to give Gina a call, you Smithfield gals got it going on! 

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Carol Anne Costa is a public relations and community outreach specialist; she has experience in both the public and private sectors. She is the Chairwoman of the Scituate Democratic Town Committee and has extensive community affairs and public relations experience. She previously served in the Rhode Island Judiciary for nearly 17 years. Carol also enjoyed a successful development stint at the Diocese of Providence as Associate Director for Catholic Education and is currently the Executive Director of the Warren Housing Authority. Her work has been published in several local outlets including GoLocal, Valley Breeze, The Rhode Island Catholic, and Currents Magazine.

 

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