The Rocky Point School District’s Music Department has been named a recipient of the prestigious Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 25th year, the designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students.
To qualify for the designation, Rocky Point Music Department chairpersons Craig Knapp and Amy Schecher, and Middle School orchestra director Meghan Walter, completed a rigorous application process and answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs.
“Music education is thriving in the Rocky Point School District,” said Mr. Knapp. “The impact that music experiences provide for our students and community are incalculable. The music faculty in Rocky Point are extremely hardworking and dedicated professionals. Students love participating in our music programs and our wonderful staff is to be commended for creating such joyful and memorable experiences for the children. We are honored to be the recipients of this designation and we hope it is met with great pride from the community and continues to help to raise awareness and support for our music program. Receiving this award is a distinguished accomplishment and this validates and supports how important and relevant the music program is in Rocky Point.”
Mrs. Walter, who contributed countless hours of research to help complete the NAMM application said, “What an absolute joy it is to be part of a community that truly values and supports music education! I am proud of our district for understanding the importance of how the performing arts helps shape the minds and hearts of our young ones. Here’s to more harmonious achievements and the sweet sound of our students’ success!”
Mr. Knapp and Ms. Schecher added, “We are very thankful for all of the time, effort and energy that Mrs. Walter contributed toward this application process. Her dedication to her students and to the overall vision of the music department is immeasurable. We would also like to acknowledge and thank all of the administrators and Board of Education in Rocky Point for their continued support of our music programs. Special thanks and appreciation to Dr. Factor and Mr. Van Cott for assisting us with some of the information required to finalize the application process. We are truly grateful to serve the students of this amazing community and to be part of such an incredible school district.”
ABOUT THE NAMM FOUNDATION
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 15,000 global member companies and individual professionals worldwide. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs.
WHY IS MUSIC EDUCATION IMPORTANT?
Research continues to demonstrate educational, cognitive and social benefits for children who are involved in music programs. Students involved in music programs display increased development of fine and gross motor skills, growth in language abilities, improvement of emotional progress, building of self-confidence, and contributes to success in collaborative settings. After two years of music education, studies found that participants showed substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading ability. Listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training.
Music classes/ensembles in the Rocky Point School District all have a natural and inherent connection to Social Emotional Learning. Classroom music and performing ensembles (band, chorus and orchestra) promote the building of community, discipline and respect. Neuroscience suggests that when people create music or move/dance together, pathways in their brain light up to mirror the emotions and behaviors that the other person is feeling. Creating, performing and moving to music offer Rocky Point students an opportunity to develop important skills that support positive social emotional health including the ability to name and identify their own feelings, think critically about the world around them, and practice self-regulation for positive behavior management. Students acquire important social skills through the various avenues of music offered in our schools. Our music education model requires the collective interaction of all students and the instructor. Our music teachers encourage students to establish their own musical goals, create an environment where students can formulate solutions for individual or group inaccuracies (as opposed to simply providing the answers) and nurture supportive pathways for students to navigate performance anxiety. Tolerance, helpfulness, patience and other cooperative attitudes are consciously cultivated. Other social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills and methods for offering and receiving constructive criticism. The ensemble setting requires sensitivity to the total group and awareness of the role of each individual within it.
Date Added: 4/5/2024