Van Zandt added, "We don't live by just math and science alone." He and Mahlmann repeatedly made the point that music education teaches kids to how to be creative, how to solve problems, and how to work in groups--skills that can be transferred to other endeavors. And they cited a poll showing that adults in higher education and income brackets had music education when they were in school. Arts are as essential in education as the basics, argued Van Zandt, who was wearing a red leather jacket and one of his trademark bandanas, "We seem to be the only country in the world that considers the arts a luxury," he said.

After Van Zandt signed a white Gibson electric guitar that will be auctioned to raise money for his project, Paul Houston, the executive director of the American Association of School Administrators (which represents school superintendents and principals from across the country) approached him and complimented Van Zandt for talking about the obvious connection between music education, smarter (and happier) kids, and U.S. productivity. "The fact that creativity is critical to our international competitiveness is a major point," Houston told the musician/actor/activist. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Van Zandt nodded in earnest agreement.

So will this lefty guitar hero be able to meet with and win over Laura Bush? "This transcends politics," he says. "I'd like to get her advice and opinion." But as of yet, the First Lady is not on his schedule. Nor is Margaret Spellings, the secretary of education and another target of Van Zandt's policy-minded interest. But while Van Zandt is in Washington for two sold-out Springsteen shows, he will be hobnobbing with Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Mitch McConnell, and--naturally--the two senators from Jersey. It would be surprising if he gets that gig with Bush's wife. She's probably not a fan.