-Designation Provides Crucial
Support for Local Music Education Advocates as They Fight to Save
Funding for School Music Programs-

CARLSBAD, Calif., May 5
/PRNewswire/ — Amid a dramatic backdrop of school budget cuts, the
NAMM Foundation today announced the results of its 11th annual “Best
Communities for Music Education” survey, which acknowledges
schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and
support of music education in schools. The announcement came today as a
part of NAMM’s “National Wanna Play Music Week,” (May
3-7) a week-long promotion designed to encourage people of all
ages and skill levels to experience the proven benefits of playing
music.

As the economy hinders
state and local school budgets to adequately support music education,
the 174 school districts named by the NAMM Foundation
demonstrate a commitment to providing music education for
their students.

The 2010 designation as
a Best Community for Music Education comes at a precarious moment, as
school districts nationwide are voting on their budgets in the coming
weeks.  According to the NAMM Foundation, this “Best Communities”
designation represents not only a distinction worthy of pride, but a
call to action for local music education advocates to help preserve –
and in some cases, save – their current music education programs.

“Past designees have
benefited by receiving this mark of excellence, but this year’s economic
environment is challenging for many communities,” says Mary Luehrsen, executive director of the NAMM
Foundation. “Even having earned this designation, schools are working
hard to keep programs strong in the midst of some of the deepest
education cuts seen in decades. We hope this award presented at this
critical time will compel communities to re-consider cuts that we know
are in play in many districts across the U.S.”

“This year’s survey
data reaffirms the power of community support and commitment for music
education as critical elements in quality schools,” added Luehrsen.
“Music education plays a vital role in student success in school and in
life. We urge schools nationwide to include comprehensive music and arts
education planning in their competitive federal ‘Race to the Top and
Investing in Innovation’ funding programs to sustain and expand local
music education initiatives.”

The 2010 survey, which
opened on Thursday, January 17 and ended Friday, March 12, was available to all
districts nationwide. This year, teachers and school district
administrators, representing communities across the country,
participated in the web-based survey. The districts were measured across
curricular and programmatic criteria as well as public support of their
music programs. The survey was developed and administered by The
Institute for Educational Research and Public Service, an affiliate of
the University of Kansas.

Each school receiving
the “Best Communities” designation scored in the 80th percentile or
higher in the survey’s grading process. Participants in the survey
answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements,
music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the
music program, and other relevant factors in their communities’ music
education programs. The responses were verified with district officials,
and advisory organizations reviewed the data.

Throughout the survey’s
11 years, many districts have reported that making the “Best
Communities” list has had a positive effect on their ability to preserve
music for their students.

In conducting the
annual survey, the NAMM Foundation is joined by advisory organizations
in the fields of music and education, including Americans for the Arts (www.americansforthearts.org),
League of American Orchestras (www.americanorchestras.org),
The Mr. Holland‘s Opus Foundation (www.mhopus.org),
The Metropolitan Opera Guild (www.operaed.org),
Music for All (www.musicforall.org),
Music Teachers National Association (www.mtna.org),
National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts (www.nationalguild.org),
National PTA (www.pta.org),
Yamaha Corporation of America (www.yamaha.com)
and VH1 Save The Music Foundation (www.vh1savethemusic.com).
The survey was conducted by The Institute
for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, KS, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.

The complete “Best
Communities for Music Education” roster can be viewed alphabetically
here:

http://www.namm.org/news/press-releases/namm-foundation-survey-reveals-best-communities-mu
or at www.nammfoundation.org.

About The NAMM
Foundation

The NAMM Foundation is a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to 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.

The NAMM Foundation