A lot of American children from the past were taught a variety of arts as school children. It was typical for students to learn about music through singing and even learning to play various band instruments in grammar school instead of having private Cincinnati music lessons. They also used to be introduced to other arts like painting, drawing, sculpture from their art teachers as younger kids . Several of these arts classes are no longer offered in schools due to budget cuts and this is affecting not only the kids but the art centered businesses from art schools all the way to Cincinnati music stores.

So many things that used to be the typical part of a school curriculum is now not offered anymore due to the increasing costs and budget cuts that school districts all over the nation are experiencing. A lot of the additional special classes such as music, art, and physical education are no longer being taught at the grammar school level. This is now causing a decrease in the amount of older teens being involved in the arts because they are not being exposed to them at a younger age. This is particularly true in lower income communities where school was their only option to have access to things such as learning to play an instrument or how to use different mediums of arts.

Children that are well to do , are not as affected by the school districts eliminating the arts because they have the means to go and take private lessons in music or go to a studio to take an art class . However, it has been shown that an initial exposure to something such as the arts that they would have never imagined doing or trying is the one time that will interest that child in wanting to pursue that art even more. So it does affect the wealthier children also .

Children that participate in the arts have been shown to do better in school academically. If they learn how to read musical notes and play an instrument, it has been proven that those students do better in mathematics than those who are not involved in music. Being exposed to the arts has also helped kids to stay on track and make better decisions for themselves in socially trying situations . They tend to have greater discipline and therefore are better with their time management and more responsible in their school work in addition to their social lives.

Another positive thing that happens when kids are exposed to the arts and become involved in them besides doing better academically and socially is that they have better confidence in themselves and are capable of handing pressure. After learning how to play a musical instrument and then performing in a concert successfully, that helps build confidence in a child . Also, it is very frightening to get up on a stage in front of a crowd and perform in a play or a concert. The kids learn valuable experience on how to handle this pressure by putting themselves out on that stage and performing through those butterflies .