The Everett Public Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.
Now in its 20th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Everett answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music programs, Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
“We have a long and proud tradition of providing exceptional musical opportunities for our students, both in the classroom and through extracurricular pursuits,” said Interim Superintendent Janice Gauthier. “This award is a reflection of the hard work and dedication that our students and teachers demonstrate each and every school year.”
This award recognizes that Everett is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The legislation guides implementation in the states and replaces the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) which was often criticized for an overemphasis on testing-while leaving behind subjects such as music. ESSA recommends music and the arts as important elements of a well-rounded education for all children.
Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. After two years of music education, research found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores that their less-involved peers and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school, but also to attend college as well. Everyday listening skills are stronger in musically-trained children that in those without music training. Significantly, listening skills are closely tied to the ability to: perceive speech in a noisy background, pay attention, and keep sounds in memory. Later in life, individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound; young adults and even older adults who have not played an instrument for up to 50 years show enhanced neural processing compared to their peers. Not to mention, social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism.
A 2015 study supported by The NAMM Foundation, “Striking A Chord,” also outlines the overwhelming desire by teachers and parents for music education opportunities for all children as part of the school curriculum.
The EPS Music Department is in the midst of its busiest time of the year, as several performances and trips are scheduled for the coming weeks and months. The “Percussion Pageantry” is set for Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m. in the EHS Gymnasium. String Night will be held on Thursday, April 11, the May Day Concert will be on Wednesday, May 1, and the Memorial Day Concert is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22 (all beginning at 6 p.m. inside the EHS Auditorium.)
The EHS Percussion Ensemble is competing in the 2019 Winter Guard International Percussion and Winds World Championships on April 10-14 in Dayton, Ohio. Everett High band members and musicians will also be traveling to Washington, D.C. in May to march in the National Memorial Day Parade and represent Massachusetts for a full weekend of festivities.
About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,400 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.