• The month of March has long been coined as "March Madness" when basketball fans around our country fill out brackets and cheer on their teams.  In recent years, South Dakotans have had the opportunity to cheer on teams from the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University as they qualified for the Big Dance.  In South Dakota, March also marks the time when high school basketball tournaments are played and the champions in three classes are crowned.
• A lesser known fact is that March is also "Music in Our Schools Month."  This is often the time for late winter or early spring concerts that feature the musical talent in our schools.  This month represents an opportunity to reflect upon the importance of music in our schools and to recognize the artistic talents of young musicians and the dedication of their instructors.
• As I watch our athletes on the basketball courts in March, I also take this time to applaud the talent and hard work of young musicians.  The many hours of practice are not only reserved for the basketball court, but also can be seen in music rooms across South Dakota.  As athletes work to fine-tune their plays on the court, field, course, or mat, the same holds true for the music, choir, drama, and debate students who spend hours practicing and perfecting the scales of a song, the lines of a play, and the evidence to support their oral argument.  The teamwork of an orchestra, singing ensemble, troupe of actors, or a debate team is just as evident as the teams vying for state athletic titles.
• I fondly remember when I served as an emcee for the Strings in Concert performance in Rapid City that displayed some of the best musical talent in the fourth through eighth grades.  It was evident then, just as it is now, that music plays an important role in our schools.  Regardless of the activity, students benefit from their extra-curricular interests, whether they are athletic, artistic, cultural, or community activities.  Additionally, studies have shown that extra-curricular activities help boost academic performance and student and community engagement in

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