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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Brian Wagner-Yeung, Neurodiversity and Accessibility Chairperson of New York State School Music Association
5:02:57
ยท
3 min
Brian Wagner-Yeung, representing the New York State School Music Association, testifies on the importance of accessible arts education in New York City public schools. He emphasizes the numerous benefits of music education for all students, particularly those with special needs, and urges full support and funding for arts education in every school.
- Highlights the positive impact of music on students' self-esteem, language skills, social skills, and emotional regulation
- Discusses how arts education helps meet IEP goals and supports SEL (Social Emotional Learning)
- Advocates for hiring certified arts educators and establishing partnerships with cultural institutions to support lifelong learning and career readiness
Brian Wagner-Yeung
5:02:57
Good afternoon.
5:02:58
Thank you for inviting stakeholders in arts education to testify today.
5:03:03
My name is Brian Wagner Young, and I am the Neurodiversity and Accessibility Chairperson for the New York State School Music Association or NISMA.
5:03:11
I am also a music educator for New York City Public Schools proudly teaching at P370, a district 75 school in South Brooklyn.
5:03:19
I am also an adjunct instructor at CUNY Brooklyn College where I prepare future music educators and an independent educational consultant.
5:03:28
Per the Every Student Succeeds Act, the arts are included in the language of the law as providing a well rounded education for all.
5:03:36
Not some, but all.
5:03:38
Every student should be designed a pathway for success including through the arts.
5:03:43
As you have heard throughout today, accessible arts education offers endless benefits for all.
5:03:49
I have seen countless times why access to arts education benefits every student.
5:03:55
Here are some examples from my own classroom and experience.
5:03:59
Participation in music has increased my students' self esteem, self worth, and self-concept.
5:04:05
Participation in music has impacted language, social skills, emotional regulation, independence, empowerment, and empathy.
5:04:13
You talked earlier about meeting IEP goals through the arts.
5:04:16
This is what I do every single day with every single student.
5:04:20
Access to music has created a culture of welcome and belonging.
5:04:24
You also talked about SEL earlier.
5:04:26
Again, what we do every single day with all of our students.
5:04:31
Music and the arts are sometimes the only subject area where students can thrive or find success.
5:04:36
I have found this with my students.
5:04:39
Access to a high quality music program allows students to have future career pathways through the arts.
5:04:45
Access to local and statewide artistic experiences stay with our students for the rest of their lives.
5:04:51
As a NISMA chair and as a previous NISMA student, I remember going to NISMA festivals, and I those are memories that stay with me for the rest of our lives.
5:05:01
Music and the arts reaches every student academically, emotionally, socially, personally, culturally, intrinsically, and more.
5:05:11
The arts bring joy, passion, voice, emotions, release, safety, escape, identity, compassion, and relatability to all.
5:05:21
How can we not ensure that every one of our students has access to this?
5:05:26
These examples are due to access to arts education in our schools.
5:05:30
Therefore, I urge you to fully support arts education in all of our New York City schools.
5:05:36
To do this, we can ensure arts education is fully funded and accessible to every student in every program in every school.
5:05:44
All schools have the funds to hire certified arts educators to develop high quality instruction and experiences.
5:05:52
Opportunities to use the arts to support lifelong learning are provided in all of our schools, and the arts should establish partnerships with our New York City communities and cultural institutions and develop pathways to career and readiness that will support our local economy.
5:06:07
Thank you for your time.