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 Best Communities designation, Dickinson ISD answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, and support for the music programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
“Our music programs are a source of great pride for our schools and for our community. Dickinson ISD has a long-standing tradition of musical excellence that is passed down from generation to generation of music students. We are honored to receive this award in recognition of our hard-working, dedicated, and talented students and music educators. We look forward to the continued growth of our district’s musical programs and the enrichment that music brings to our students’ educational experiences and to their lives,” said Billye Smith Ed.D. Dickinson High School Principal.
This award recognizes that Dickinson ISD 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 than 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.
“Dickinson ISD is committed to providing our students with a well-rounded education, and music education is a very important component. Study after study supports the positive impact of music education on learning, brain development and creativity, self-discipline, building relationships, and relieving stress. We are extremely proud to receive this special recognition from The NAMM Foundation, and we will continue the long history of high-quality music education for students in Gator Nation,” said Carla Voelkel, Dickinson ISD Superintendent.
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.
