NAMM Foundation

Submitted photos and press release:

The NAMM Foundation has designated Le Roy Central School District as one of the 2021 Best Communities for Music Education in the country.

This national designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. Le Roy is one of 686 districts across the nation receiving the prestigious award in 2021.

Congratulations to the Le Roy music teachers, administrators, students, parents, and community leaders on this distinguished designation!

Le Roy has received this designation 15 out of the last 16 years and continues to thrive in providing music education through many opportunities throughout the district.

The program supports 300+ students in chorus and 200+ students in band throughout our district offering vocal and instrumental performance ensembles for students in grades 4-12 as well as a competitive marching band.

Annually, the program produces a sixth-grade musical and a Jr.-Sr. High musical. In the classroom, general music and a variety of Sr. High electives are also offered each year. 

QUOTES

“Just being around people that share the same interest as you is comforting and creates a family! -- Aubrey Puccio, eighth grade

"Music releases tension and is fun! I like being with my friends and playing percussion with my siblings at home." -- Robert Dunn, fifth grade

"On behalf of the Board of Education and the entire Le Roy Central School District, we are all extremely proud to be recognized again as a 2021 Best Communities for Music Education. During this global pandemic, our music teachers provided their students with innovative and creative instructional opportunities for both in-person and virtually learning. This prestigious honor signifies the continued dedication and passion our teachers and students have each day to excel in music education. Congratulations to our administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community for setting high expectations in order to achieve this tremendous accomplishment!" -- Merritt Holly, Le Roy superintendent 

“For me it is about finding my people in high school. It helped me find my circle of people that I wanted to spend my time with in high school. I think it is a wonderful thing to create music for an audience all together because we all want to be here and create something beautiful.” -- Catie Long, 12th grade

"Music is fun! It makes you more engaged with the school than you already are and you get to go on trips and make fun memories with your group." --Halie Hassell, sixth grade

"The families, teachers, staff, administration and Board of Education of Le Roy have always prioritized music education in our community. In this challenging school year, the music teachers have been able to make lemonade out of lemons mostly due to this support. This award illustrates the important role our community plays in what we teach on a daily basis! Thank you to the NAMM Foundation for this recognition and thank you to the Le Roy community for your continuous support!" -- Jessa Dechant, Le Roy Music Department chair  

bit.ly/LRMusicBCME21

For more information visit the NAMM Foundation.

Press release:

Pembroke Central School District 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 21st 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 designation, Pembroke CSD 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.

This award recognizes that Pembroke CSD 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.

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, click here.

Submitted photos and press release:

The philanthropic arm of the trade group known as the National Association of Music Merchants -- the NAMM Foundation -- has designated Le Roy Central School District as one of the 2020 Best Communities for Music Education in the nation.

This designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

Le Roy is one of 754 districts across the county receiving the prestigious award in 2020. Congratulations to the Le Roy music teachers, administrators, students, parents, and community leaders on this distinguished designation!

Le Roy has received this designation 14 out of the last 15 years and continues to thrive in providing music education through many opportunities throughout the district.

In the Le Roy Central School District, the music education program supports 325 students in chorus and 220 students in band, and offers vocal and instrumental performance ensembles for students in grades 4-12 as well as a competitive marching band.

Annually, the program produces a sixth-grade musical and a jr.-sr. high musical. In the classroom, general music and a variety of sr. high electives are also offered each year.

Merritt Holly -- Le Roy superintendent: "On behalf of the Board of Education and the entire Le Roy Central School District, we are extremely proud to be recognized again as a 2020 Best Communities for Music Education. This prestigious honor signifies the continued dedication and passion our teachers and students have each day to excel in music education. Congratulations to our administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community for setting high expectations in order to achieve this tremendous accomplishment!"

Carol Messura -- Wolcott Street School principal: "Wolcott Street School is beaming with pride at receiving the "Best Community for Music Education" designation for the 14th year! Our music department continues to raise the bar of excellence for our students! Each and every staff member in the department plays an integral role in providing quality, sound instruction to meet the needs of all their students. Congratulations on another year of excellence!"

Tim McArdle -- Jr.-Sr. High School principal: "We are so proud of our music students and staff who year in and year out produce high-level performances on our stages, in the pit, in competition, and on the field across many places throughout the region. Our program is so successful because of the dedicated teachers, families, and community who continue to offer so many opportunities for our students. A special thank you to our students for their commitment and willingness to perform at such a high level. Their dedication to and work ethic on their craft is inspiring, way to go, Knights!"

Matt Nordhausen -- Le Roy Music Department chair: "We are truly humbled to receive this wonderful designation for a 14th year, which casts a national spotlight on the incredible contributions made by the parents, teachers, school administrators, board of education, and members of this community to provide unparalleled music educational opportunities and experiences for the growth and benefit of our students. It is especially uplifting to earn this distinction during these troubling and uncertain times. Thank you NAMM Foundation for this recognition and thank you Le Roy community for your continued support!"

For more information about NAMM Foundation and its support of programs, research and activities that promote music making across the lifespan, click here.