The Best Communities for Music Education award acknowledges school districts all throughout the U.S. for their commitment to music education. Each fall, districts can choose to answer an extensive survey which is then analyzed. Based on the results, the awards are announced in the spring.
“Parents and community members often comment about the outstanding music program Farmingdale offers,” said Farmingdale’s Fine Arts Director Rita Zirpolo Padden. “It is wonderful to get this validation from nationally recognized music educators and researchers.”
Receiving this award recognizes the commitment of parents and teachers who believe in music education and are working to ensure that it is part of a complete education for children. Over the 15 years since its inception, the survey measures a variety of factors including budgetary commitment to music, opportunities to learn music, the presence of highly qualified, certified music teachers, adherence to state and national standards, types of musical experiences offered and opportunities for performance and competition. Receiving a Best
Communities for Music Education Award means that the District demonstrates commitment to providing access and high standards for music education.
More than 2,000 districts and schools participated in the 2013-14 survey with 376 districts being awarded the Best Communities in Music Education designated by the NAMM Foundation, a nonprofit organization supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its nearly 9,000 members worldwide with the mission of advancing active participation in music making.
“These schools and districts make a strong commitment to music education in the core curriculum supporting its essential value to a well-rounded education for every child,” said Mary Luehrsen, NAMM Foundation executive director.
— Submitted by Fine Arts Director Rita Padden
