MARCH is National Music In Our Schools Month®
MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH®
A national recognition of music in our schools, Music In Our Schools Month® was begun by the National Association for Music Education in 1973 to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. Access to music and music education is a primary part of the Grand Teton Music Festival’s mission, and the Festival proudly supports its local school music programs.
WHY MUSIC?
The cultural and social benefits of school-based music programs are long known – music provides an outlet for creativity, self-expression, encourages teamwork, and reinforces communication skills, and sustains our cultural heritage . But there is now scientific evidence, both behavioral and neurophysiological, that music does so much more. It generates neural connections, uniquely enhancing higher brain functions that enable a child to reason abstractly in subjects such as math, physics, and engineering. Kids involved in school music programs even score higher on standardized tests. Most important of all, music is simply worth knowing!
There are many ways to reach out through music!
- Bring a young person to a concert, and give them the experience of classical music and live performance.
- Contact your local music educators to find out how you can become involved in the school program.
- Use the many excellent resources available to learn about research about the benefits of music education! Some recommended sites:
www.supportmusic.com
www.amc-music.com
www.namm.com
www.menc.org