Music helps to bring out the best in young people. It nourishes self-esteem and keeps them engaged. The starting point for any good school program is the teacher, whether that program teaches English, math, science, history, arts--or music. So why is it that, at the elementary level, we have so many generalist classroom teachers--with no background in music or music education--attempting to deliver the music curriculum? We know that active music making has the strongest impact on kids, but in a survey by the Coalition for Music Education, listening ranked highest on the list of music activities in schools. Could this be a symptom of the lack of knowledgeable music specialists in the classroom, who find it easier to put a CD into a player than to teach the rudiments of music theory or strike up a chorus or a band? Strengthening music programs may require resources, but more fundamentally, it requires a will and a belief that music can change young lives. (Contains 8 endnotes.)