Warwick Valley School District recognized nationally for music education efforts
WARWICK — For the second consecutive year, the NAMM Foundation has recognized the Warwick Valley Central School District for its commitment to music education with a Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) designation.
The district joins 376 districts across the country to receive the prestigious distinction in 2014.
In its 15th year, Best Communities for Music Education affirms school districts that have demonstrated exceptional efforts toward maintaining music education as part of the schools’ core curriculum.
The BCME survey requires districts to answer detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs.
Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.
Commitment by district, students, parents
As the School Board finalizes its 2014–15 budget, the announcement of this year’s Best Communities for Music Education designation brings attention to the importance of keeping music education part of school’s core education and music’s vital role in student success in school.
“This is the second year in a row that our district has been recognized with the Best Communities for Music Education award,” School Superintendent Dr. Raymond Bryant said in the district's press release announcing the award. “This recognition demonstrates our strong commitment to music education. We are very fortunate to have talented music instructors dedicated to providing an outstanding experience in music education for our students.
"It is through the hard work and dedication of our music teachers and the constant support from parents, district administrators and the Board of Education that Warwick has once again been named a Best Community for Music Education,” Bryant added.
The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its nearly 9,000 members around the world with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry.
NAMM Foundation’s efforts to make music education part of the core curriculum assuring that the benefits of music making are available to every child.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that learning to play music can boost academic and social skills, lower disciplinary action and keep kids in schools.
For more information, visit www.nammfoundation.org.