Wakefield named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM Foundation)
Good Morning,
I wanted to take a minute and make you aware of a great honor that has been awarded to the Wakefield Public Schools Music Department. For the second consecutive year, Wakefield has
been named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM Foundation). The Best Communities for Music Education(BCME) survey acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment and support for music education as part of the core curriculum. Each school receiving the “Best Communities” designation scored in the 80th percentile or higher in the survey's grading process. Participants in the survey answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and other relevant factors in their communities' music education programs. The responses were verified with district officials and advisory organizations reviewed the data. This year there were 176 school districts recognized nationally, including five in Massachusetts other than Wakefield- Duxbury, Lynn, Wayland, Westborough and Weston. The link to the complete story is below:
http://www.nammfoundation.org/press-room/namm-foundation-176-programs-earn-distinction-best-community-music-education
This is a wonderful honor for the music department, the school department and the community of Wakefield. I would like to thank you for your support of the music program and understanding how important it is to the overall success of the students of Wakefield. Your time and effort in supporting the music program at times when it is hard to do so is the reason the program is thriving at a time
when many others are dying. While all the data continues to show the importance of music in the schools:
...many schools have cut music programs to the absolute minimums. Wakefield has not. I say thank you for your support and I look forward to making the program grow and continuing
it's success in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Tom Bankert
Wakefield K-12 Performing
Arts Coordinator
I wanted to take a minute and make you aware of a great honor that has been awarded to the Wakefield Public Schools Music Department. For the second consecutive year, Wakefield has
been named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM Foundation). The Best Communities for Music Education(BCME) survey acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment and support for music education as part of the core curriculum. Each school receiving the “Best Communities” designation scored in the 80th percentile or higher in the survey's grading process. Participants in the survey answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and other relevant factors in their communities' music education programs. The responses were verified with district officials and advisory organizations reviewed the data. This year there were 176 school districts recognized nationally, including five in Massachusetts other than Wakefield- Duxbury, Lynn, Wayland, Westborough and Weston. The link to the complete story is below:
http://www.nammfoundation.org/press-room/namm-foundation-176-programs-earn-distinction-best-community-music-education
This is a wonderful honor for the music department, the school department and the community of Wakefield. I would like to thank you for your support of the music program and understanding how important it is to the overall success of the students of Wakefield. Your time and effort in supporting the music program at times when it is hard to do so is the reason the program is thriving at a time
when many others are dying. While all the data continues to show the importance of music in the schools:
- A Columbia University study revealed that students in the arts are found to be more cooperative with teachers and peers, more self-confident and better able to express their ideas. (Source: Burton, J., Horowitz, R., Abeles, H. Champions of Change, Arts Education Partnership, 2009.)
- Students indicate that arts participation motivates them to stay in school, and that the arts create a supportive environment that promotes constructive acceptance of criticism and one in which it is safe to take risks. (Source: Barry, N., Taylor, K. and K. Walls Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development, AEP,
2002.)
- The skills gained through sequential music instruction, including discipline and the ability to analyze, solve problems, communicate and work cooperatively, are vital for success in the 21st century workplace. (Source: U.S. House of
Representatives, Concurrent Resolution 355, March 6, 2006.)
...many schools have cut music programs to the absolute minimums. Wakefield has not. I say thank you for your support and I look forward to making the program grow and continuing
it's success in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Tom Bankert
Wakefield K-12 Performing
Arts Coordinator
