Ellis Kell, Terry Hanson, and six other local musicians performed at the River Music Experience in Davenport to benefit Rock Island's Thurgood Marshall school, raising funds to bring musicians and artists to students who lack creative outlets. Thurgood Marshall has students who have had family, behavioral, or truancy issues.

Teacher Linda Golden said exposing students to local artists does wonders for the students, many of whom have had a rocky start but are committed to turning their lives around. "That is an incredibly good way to fight truancy," she said. "Anything that helps students graduate helps our community." (Nicole Lauer, QC Dispatch-Argus, Nov 7)

Research has shown that schools that support music and music programs have significantly higher graduation rates than do those without programs (90.2% as compared to 72.9%). In addition, those that rate their music programs as “excellent” or “very good” have an even higher graduation rate (90.9%). Schools that have music programs have significantly higher attendance rates than do those without programs (93.3% as compared to 84.9%). (From Harris Interactive poll of high school principals; funded by MENC and NAMM.)

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