In writing a recent blog, inspired by Gustavo Dudamel’s orchestral version of a popular Puerto Rican band’s hit song, I began to muse on the subject of music education in Venezuela and the U.S. There are a million kids enrolled in Venezuela’s music system, called El Sistema. Some of them, like Gustavo Dudamel, rise to the top. Then there was the at-risk kid, Edicson Ruiz, who got off Caracas’ dangerous streets and joined El Sistema. He learned the bass from scratch and won an audition for the Berlin Philharmonic – no small feat. Watching Dudamel conduct the huge Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra is truly inspiring. Classical music isn’t boring when played with that kind of energy and passion. And by kids no less, which makes it even better. Many of these kids were rescued from a life of crime and gang warfare. Sounds like a good idea for U.S. cities.
Music education gives kids a chance to develop another language, a chance to explore another part of their minds. I’ve done hundreds of interviews with musicians over the past 30 years and many of these artists were not verbally gifted. They didn’t give great interviews, but when playing music an altogether different voice spoke up. They were eloquent, elegant, and compelling.
Charlie Parker, when given a Down Beat magazine award by the late critic Leonard Feather, sounded downright slow. When Jean Paul Sartre told Parker he liked his new bebop music, Parker replied, “I like your music too.” He had no clue as to who his famous philosopher fan was, but look at his music. Parker was not only a genius musician who blew everybody else away, but he, like Bach, invented a whole new musical language. Ditto for even the great John Coltrane, not exactly a man of many words. Thelonious Monk was even more elliptical with speech, but he was a genius composer of evergreen jazz classics.
Back in the day when I was a kid, music education was offered in public schools. Students got instruments and didn’t have to pay for private lessons to learn. That disappearing now, sadly. The creativity involved in music-making can help young people find outlets, purpose, and keep off the streets. Music can organize and improve young lives, be participatory rather than just passive (like watching videos). Without music education, otherwise gifted youth might wind up in mediocre jobs, gangs, or even prison. There could be thousands of gifted musicians we’ll never know about who could make positive contributions as teachers and role models in sharing the gift and joy of music, like the ex-con who’s now playing with the Berlin Phil.
We see such good things happening in Venezuela. Whether or not you like Hugo Chavez, he’s spending his oil money on something priceless. Gustavo Dudamel has brought some of that enterprising musical education spirit here, but we could surely be doing much more. There’s much more in life for young people than just following Justin Bieber’s every move.
*Editor’s note: This post was updated with a new image, video, and links on September 26, 2025.