Music education in Nashville could soon get a boost. The city is well positioned to take advantage of a recent rewrite of a major federal education law that opens the door to additional funding for the arts, music education advocates say…
The Every Student Succeeds Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama earlier this month, lists music as a component of a well-rounded education. It’s a philosophy that has been pushed by Nashville’s Music Makes Us program, which recently celebrated an all-time high of students enrolled in music education programs.
“I don’t have a crystal ball … but it is all trending in the right direction,” said Laurie Schell, Music Makes Us director, a public-private partnership that is helping teach music to children in Nashville. “More students, more access, more opportunities for teachers … it all gives me great hope for an expansion of what we are doing here.”
The law also opens up federal grant funding for states and local school districts to support music education programs and train music teachers. There will also be opportunities for federal grants to fund music education at community centers across the country.
The increased emphasis on music education is good news in Nashville where the Music Makes Us program has been hitting its stride in terms of participation, results and inclusion of low-income students. Music Makes Us is a public-private partnership that has received $10 million for new instruments and other support from the Country Music Association.
The increased emphasis on music education is good news in Nashville where the Music Makes Us program has been hitting its stride in terms of participation, results and inclusion of low-income students. Music Makes Us is a public-private partnership that has received $10 million for new instruments and other support from the Country Music Association.
“Every time I play the piano, I can’t help but think of my childhood piano teacher, Miss Lennis Tedford. I’ll be forever grateful for the love of music she gave me,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, who supported the greater emphasis on music education in the federal legislation. “Music education has that kind of power over students and also teaches them self-discipline, teamwork and an appreciation of the arts.”
More than 48,700 Metro Nashville public school students, or 56 percent of the district’s students, take part in music education classes, according to a Wednesday report by Music Makes Us.
Since the program began, it has improved access to music education for students across every subgroup, including students listed as special needs, the report says. It also says students enrolled in music education have shown better attitudes toward school and increased academic results over time.
Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet sophomore Jamie Booker, 15, said he has a love of playing the violin, and it keeps him level when school work becomes overwhelming.
“Any type of music de-stresses me, especially during exams,” Booker said. “It helps me cope with things at home and with the homework.”
Booker’s experience is just one of many whose lives have been changed by music, said Anna Maria Miller, the orchestra director at MLK and Hume Fogg Magnet.
“I’ve seen students that maybe were not doing well academically turn things around,” she said. “Music was a way for them to feel successful. They found a way to bridge the gap academically.”
The new education bill wiped out No Child Left Behind, the education law passed by former President George W. Bush. That law drew criticism for over-emphasizing standardized testing, which did not include music education as one of its subjects. Since the new law does not prioritize standardized tests as much, the hope from music education advocates is that teachers will have more time to focus on the arts and other subjects.
“Through arts education, every student in Nashville will be able to enjoy the genius our city offers,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville.
The music industry, especially the National Association of Music Merchants, applauded the prioritization of music education. The organization, which represents instrument makers and retailers, has made music education in schools one of its top policy priorities.
“With this new legislation, we will expand our advocacy efforts around the belief that indeed every child succeeds with an opportunity to learn and grow with music,” said Mary Leuhrsen, NAMM’s director of government affairs.
By Jason Gonzales and Nate Rau, nrau@tennessean.com
Reach Nate Rau on Twitter @tnnaterau and Jason Gonzales on Twitter @ByJasonGonzales.
[Thanks to Alex Teitz for the sharp eye and for passing this along! Http://www.femmusic.com]