550 B.C. (birth of Confucius)
“Music was considered an indispensable part of general education in ancient China, being one of the six basic subjects in the education of youth during and around the time of Confucius.” 1
425 B.C. (birth of Plato)
“Formal schooling should, according to Plato, start at the age of 6 and should be compulsory… Plato had clearly stated the importance of early childhood music education.” 2
1483 (birth of Martin Luther)
“Whoever has skill in music is of good temperament and fitted for all things. We must teach music in schools.” Martin Luther
1946 (birth of Bill Clinton)
“Music is about communication, creativity and cooperation. By studying music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives and experience the world from a new perspective.” President Bill Clinton