In 2019, the Eddins Elementary Honor Choir was one of only three elementary choirs in the state chosen to perform at the TMEA Conference. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Ringel)

McKinney, Texas – For the fifth consecutive year, McKinney ISD has been honored with the designation of Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation in response to the district’s outstanding commitment to music education.

Now in its 22nd 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, instructional 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.

Cockrill Middle School Band

Dr. Dan White, MISD director of fine arts, said that the award recognizes not only the great music instruction taking place in MISD and high levels of student participation, but also takes into account support at the district level.

“When we provide the data for the Best Communities recognition,” White said, “Not only do we have to give information about numbers in the program and that sort of thing, we also have to provide information on district budgets and support from the community as far as attendance at performances and coming to events.”

White adds, “There is substantial support for the program.”

And, a great music program is great for students.

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.

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.

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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