Music (and fine arts in general) are the the first prgoarms to go because educators feel the academic is the only necessity and fine arts is a luxury for the people who can afford it. Ironic thing is the educators who feel this way have the means to have music education for their children. It's a shame, because everyone enjoys music, so everyone should have the ability to be educated in it. Case in point: A boy I went to school with played on a trumpet a few times. It was obvious he had talent, and he wanted to play. The school system didn't have a music program. His family couldn't afford a trumpet or music lessons for him to learn how to read music. So now at 24, he's just now gotten enough money to be able to start lessons. I have a brochure from the Times Union Center in Jacksonville with special rates for children. They have a lot of neat music and dance prgoarms for children to be able to interact and have fun learning about dance and music. Jacksonville has a wonderful fine arts program.