Foundation Names Ossining a "Best Community for Music Education"

For the 10th year in a row, the Ossining School District received a Best Community for Music Education Award from the NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music instruction.

Ossining is one of 754 school districts across the nation to be named a Best Community for Music Education this year.

Districts that receive the designation have demonstrated outstanding achievement in providing music access and education to all students as part of a well-rounded education, according to the NAMM Foundation, a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its more than 10,000 members.

“The Ossining Community has consistently supported music and the arts,” said district Director of Cultural Arts Bradley Morrison. “Making sure that our students have access to quality music instruction, and helping kids discover their expressive potential is at the core of what we do.”

The award recognizes that Ossining is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act, which recommends music and the arts as important elements of a well-rounded education for all children. To apply, districts must answer detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities and support for music programs. The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas reviews all the questionnaires.

“Music helps kids discover not just bravery, acceptance, self-expression and imagination, but also themselves,” said Izaak Baer-Sanft, a senior at Ossining High School who will be studying music in college. “In today's world of instant answers, we need to be teaching our kids to be explorers.”

Research has found that participating in music has educational/cognitive and social benefits. After two years of music education, students had more substantial improvements in reading scores and speech-processing skills than their less involved peers did. Students who are involved in music are more likely to graduate high school and attend college.

A 2015 study supported by the NAMM Foundation found teachers and parents overwhelmingly want music education opportunities for all children as part of the school curriculum.