Musical Literacy

* Thank you for your “Notes on an Anniversary” editorial (Oct. 10). The 75th anniversary season of the Los Angeles Philharmonic is a profoundly important milestone in our community. Our orchestra lives because of musical literacy. But musical literacy, and the cultural and educational wealth that attends it, is indeed tragically imperiled by cutbacks in music education in our public schools.

Music education is a birthright and integral to children’s learning skills. Besides bridging history and culture, it is essential to self-expression and self-esteem as well as joy. It is a valuable tool for teaching language, reading and many other skills.

We must treat music as a first language. Our station’s staff has tried to help make up for cutbacks in music education by taking programs to elementary schools in the community. Many of our listeners have campaigned by telephone and in writing to preserve public school funding for music education.

But re-establishing music education as a priority requires a unified effort by all of us. Your editorial will help spur a greatly needed renewed commitment to music education in our schools. What better time to make this commitment than our orchestra’s 75th anniversary.

WALLACE A. SMITH

President and General Manager

USC Radio