The focus of this issue changed when the impact of our current trade policies on music education became evident. Perhaps, like many of you, I was unaware of the impact these policies will have in our classrooms as early as this fall. Former SBO editor and current SBO+ publisher Mike Lawson has a unique perspective because he’s also the publisher of our sister publication, Musical Merchandise Review. MMR (MMRmagazine.com) has been covering the music industry since 1879 (not a misprint!) and the manufacturers, dealers, and vendors who read and contribute to that magazine have been sounding the alarm.
The bottom line is that even if the tariffs are canceled today, in the fall, schools and parents are likely to find inventories of student musical instruments very low or out of stock. Of course, the laws of supply and demand will then mean higher prices for student instruments even if tariffs are repealed now until supply chains can eventually recover, which will take many months.
Who will be hurt the most by this? Well-off parents and schools may be able to withstand this sticker shock. Title 1 schools and many, many students will however be “priced out” of beginner band and orchestra. And if enrollments go down, you know what the impact will be on teacher positions.
Please read Mike’s article in UpClose (p. 8) for a more complete picture of the impact. You can also read a much more extensive article in MMR magazine later this month. We need SBO+ readers to help sound the alarm with Members of Congress!
The school year is drawing to a close and Bill Humbert’s article gives a great checklist of items to be done at the end of the school year to help get 2025-2026 off to a great start.
Our friends at NAfME have highlighted the indispensable role that foundational music classes like General Music in the early grades have on the entire music education ecosystem.
Over the last few months, we included articles about the grading of music for bands, orchestras, and choir. This month we include a highly informative article about the proper selection of music for marching band.
Have you nominated a brand or item for the Teachers’ Choice Award (https://sboplus.net/tca/)? Make your voice heard!
We always love hearing from our readers. Contact me at [email protected].
Tom Palmatier
SBO+ Editor-in-Chief
