Newtown Named A ‘Best Community For Music’

For the third year in a row, and the fourth time in its history, the Newtown Public Schools has been designated a Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. The foundation recently announced the results of its 13th Annual Best Communities for Music Education survey, which acknowledges schools and districts across the United States for commitment and support of music education as part of the core curriculum.

In all, 176 communities out of 237 that submitted surveys were recognized, including 166 school districts and ten schools. According to the foundation, there are 13,619 school districts in the United States.

Each school receiving the “Best Community” 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.

A copy of the survey can be downloaded for review at www.nammfoundation.org, where the complete Best Communities for Education roster can also be viewed.

In conducting the annual survey, the NAMM Foundation is joined by advisory organizations in the fields of music and education: Americans for the Arts (www.americansforthearts.org), League of American Orchestras (www.americanorchestras.org), The Mr Holland’s Opus Foundation (www.mhopus.org), Music for All (www.musicforall.org), Music Teachers National Association (www.mtna.org), National Guild For Community Arts Education (www.nationalguild.org), Yamaha Corporation of America (www.yamaha.com), Young Audiences (www.youngaudiences.org/), and VH1 Save The Music Foundation (www.vh1savethemusic.com).

The NAMM Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to 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, according to the foundation.