Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation was named among the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) in the country (686 school districts, in 40 states) by the the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. This is the 8th year in a row that P-H-M has received this national honor!
This week the NAMM Foundation celebrated and recognized K-12 music teachers in school districts who found creative ways for the “show to carry on” despite schools moving online or to in-person settings where masks were required not only for student musicians and instruments.
In 2020, as districts shut down for in-person learning, teachers began sending sheet music, videos, and audio to students via the internet. Classes went from the band room to Zoom. Music education became much more individualized and difficult.
Within P-H-M, music teachers worked really hard to make sure their students’ music education did not suffer due to the necessary pandemic safety protocols. Here are a few examples:
- In December, Penn High School Choirs’ annual “Sounds of the Season” concert was held virtually.
- Also in December, Discovery Middle School Choir teacher Jennifer Graybill led the schools’ choirs in a virtual, recorded performance of “One Candle.”.
- In March Penn High School’s annual musical was held in person with many safety precautions: a limited audience, live streamed, and the student actors wore masks. Click to watch a video about how Penn Musical Director pulled it off.
These examples are just a few out of the many ingenious ways P-H-M music, choir, band, and orchestra directors/teachers succeeded in reinventing music instruction and performances. Their successes wouldn’t have been possible without the flexibility and support of students’ families and the larger community. This is just one of the many reasons why P-H-M and other districts were recognized by the NAMM Foundation this week as “Best Communities for Music Education.”
In our elementary schools, music class is part of the regular curriculum following state standards. Students are instructed in both vocal and instrument classes. Beginning in 6th grade, P-H-M students at our three middle schools (Discovery, Schmucker and Grissom) have the opportunity to choose choir, orchestra or band as their music elective. Students at Discovery also have the option of choosing Piano Lab.
Penn High School offers the Fine Arts & Communication Academy as part of its unique academy structure. The seven academy design provides Penn students with relevant and meaningful coursework taught in smaller, supportive environments where each student is known well by his teacher and peers. Nearly a third of Penn’s total 3,500 students are enrolled in the Fine Arts Academy with the majority being involved with music programs, either Choir, Orchestra, Band or another music program.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, P-H-M answered 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 Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. In a series of landmark studies by scientists and researchers at Northwestern University a link was found between students in community music programs and life-long academic success, including higher high school graduation rates and college attendance. In another study from the University, it was discovered that the benefits of early exposure to music education improves how the brain processes and assimilates sounds, a trait that lasts well into adulthood.
Beyond the Northwestern research, other studies have indicated that music education lays the foundation for individual excellence in group settings, creative problem solving and flexibility in work situations, as well learning how to give and receive constructive criticism to excel.
