South Brunswick Schools Recognized For Commitment To Music

The South Brunswick District has been recognized for its “outstanding commitment to music education.”

The district is one of only 388 in the country named to the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation’s list of the Best Communities for Music Education.

It is one of 27 New Jersey districts to earn the designation. New Brunswick was also named to that list.

The NAMM Foundation recognizes districts where school staff, parents, students and members of the community have worked to make music part of the core curriculum, according to a news release from the foundation.

“Ensuring that every child has access to music in schools requires commitment by students, teachers, and those who determine school budgets,” Mary Luehrsen, the executive director of the NAMM Foundation, said in a prepared statement. “We commend the districts and schools that have earned the Best Community designation this year. They join with so many that believe as we do that there is a vital link between do-rei-me and the ABCs.”

A researcher at Northwestern found that participation in music education helps improve brain function and sparks language development, according to the news release.

But 1.3 million elementary school students nationwide have no access to music classes, the news release said.

Researchers at the Center for Public Partnerships & Research, Kansas - an affiliate of the University of Kansas - worked with the foundation to evaluate the school districts and their commitment to music education.