Exposure

I may be stretching it a bit when I say this, but then again, I may not be too far off. South Texas is what some call a "fertile" ground for the arts because people haven't been exposed to much of it.

Having been around music and/or art educators my whole life, I've definitely taken note on how they go about teaching their students. I've seen the struggle made when a student isn't passing their classes and isn't eligible to compete for a region band or choir, and similarly, I've seen the same teachers struggle to help the students family understand why they're even bothering with their child.

Not many kids in South Texas come from families where numerous members of the family have participated in fine arts organizations, so it is not uncommon for middle school kids to be the first one in their family to be part of a school band, for example. After they get a feeling for the arts, however, many times their friends and siblings see what they do, how much they enjoy it and decide to join also.

Exposure, even if it's by word of mouth or by example is crucial to the livelihood of the arts.