This week, Hoover, Alabama was named one of the 2013 Best Communities for Music Education. For the past 14 years, the NAMM Foundation has hosted the annual award as part of their Best Communities for Music Education Program.
Hoover City Schools is one of three Alabama schools to receive this national distinction. There were 307 total districts selected this year, including two schools from the neighboring communities of Homewood and Vestavia Hills, which was also one of the 66 recipients selected for the 2013 SupportMusic Merit Award.
Schools and districts are selected based on an extensive review conducted by researchers at The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service at The University of Kansas, using details on music program funding, staffing, commitment to standards and access to music instruction in the school.
“This designation recognizes communities for their commitment to music education and strengthens support for these programs. Having widely embraced the evidence indicating that music education yields great things in schools and communities, people are increasingly affirmative, advocating for school music curricula, and championing programs like Best Communities that recognize this commitment to music education,” said Mary Luehrsen, NAAM Foundation Executive Director.
Music plays a key role in student achievement, which has social benefits and a lasting impact on the local community. This distinction reveals Hoover’s continued support for the arts and providing its community with a focus on music learning that starts at an early age.
“The designation reveals the elements of music programs so educators, administrators, teachers and students can see what they have, what they need, what they have accomplished, and what work needs to be done to strengthen their music education now and for the future,” Luehrsen said.
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.