• The Eddins Middle School Honor Choir in 2019, one of only three elementary choirs in the state invited to perform at the TMEA state conference that year. It was the second such invitation for the Eddins choir and the third for Director Melissa Ringel. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Ringel)
• Cockrill Middle School Band Director Gary Williams with members of the CMS Honors Band in 2019 as they prepare a piece for the TMEA conference. The CMS Honors Band was named the 2020 TMEA CCC Middle School Honor Band.
• McKinney Boyd Consortium Orchestra members in 2018, the year they won national recognition from the Foundation for Music Education.
• Members of the McKinney North High School True North Choir Ensemble in 2019 performing a special barbershop quartet number during the 2019 Teacher of the Year Dinner.
• Officials from McKinney ISD and the City of McKinney at the 2019 unveiling of the McKinney High School Performing Arts Center and Sperry Performance Hall. The project was funded by the 2016 MISD School Bond program.
• Faubion Middle School Orchestra Director Kari Zamora and students in 2016 as they prepare for their 2016 performance at the renowned Midwest Clinic.

McKinney, Texas – For the fourth consecutive year, McKinney ISD has been honored with the designation of Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation for the district’s 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 Best Communities designation, MISD submitted detailed information about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities and support for the music programs. Program information was verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Directors and members of the McKinney High School Band perform an online version of the MHS school song during the 2020 school closure.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized by the NAMM Foundation for the fourth consecutive year,” said Dr. Dan White, MISD director of fine arts. “Being recognized at a national level for the quality fine arts program in McKinney ISD is a tribute to the work of our outstanding fine arts teachers.”

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 than their peers who did not participate in music education and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school, but also to attend college as well.

Mark Wood (right), of Trans-Siberian Orchestra fame, performs with McKinney ISD orchestra students during a special 2019 concert held at the McKinney High School Performing Arts Center.

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. Social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills and how to give and receive constructive criticism.

McKinney High School’s Matthew Dexter, since graduated, and Maggie McGowan perform in “The Phantom of the Opera” during the 2019 inaugural run of shows at the McKinney High School Performing Arts Center. (Photo courtesy of Hoss McBain Photography)

Here’s a sampling of stories featuring the MISD music program over the last few years:

MISD Middle School Students Perform with Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Mark Wood (Video) (2020)

From ‘This is Impossible’ to Best in State: Cockrill Honors Band is the 2020 TMEA CCC Middle School Honor Band (2019)

Eddins Honor Choir is One of Only Three Elementary Choirs in the State Chosen to Perform at TMEA Conference (Video) (2019)

Sperry Dedication, Stellar Design and Sold Out Shows Make for Grand Opening at MHS Performing Arts Center (2019)

Mark of Excellence: Four MISD Ensembles Earn National and State Recognition from the Foundation for Music Education (2018)

Star of “The Color Purple” and MHS Alum Adrianna Hicks Meets with MHS Students (2018)

A Legacy of Excellence: Boyd Orchestra and Cockrill Band Earn National Recognition (Again!) (2017)

McKinney North Symphonic Band Earns State Recognition From Foundation for Music Education (2016)

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.

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