Newtown’s Music Education Program
Receives National Recognition Named a Best Community for Music Education for the 15th Time NEWTOWN, CT - May 4, 2023 – Newtown has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 24th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Newtown answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas. “We are committed to provide opportunities for our students to engage in activities that encourage them to reach their greatest potential. The excellence of our fine arts department is paramount in our mission to support the whole child.”, said Newtown Superintendent of Schools Christopher Melillo. Since the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015 and a stated emphasis on a well-rounded education, many school districts have re-committed to music and arts education programs. During the pandemic, music and arts programs were a vital component to keeping students engaged in school. ESSA provides designated funding for well-rounded educational opportunities through Title IV Part A Student Academic Success and Achievement grants. NAMM Foundation research has revealed that these grants are being widely used by school districts to address instructional gaps in access to music and arts education. Newtown High School senior Grace Lynch says, “Music is so powerful and impactful. It provides an open and safe environment where you can find out who you are without any boundaries or judgements. It is an opportunity to be myself and not worry about other people’s opinion. You can’t get that from anything else. Participating in music has done so much for all of us – we are a family. Life is incomplete without music. I would not be where I am today without it.” Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music: After two years of music education, researchers found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school but also to attend college as well. In addition, everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training. Significantly, listening skills are closely tied to the ability to: perceive speech in a noisy background, pay attention, and keep sounds in memory. Later in life, individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound: young adults and even older adults who have not played an instrument for up to 50 years show enhanced neural processing compared to their peers. Not to mention, social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism. 70% of all students in grades K-12 participate in the Newtown Public School’s music program. Curricular offerings follow the national and state standards for music education and include General Music, Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Improvisation, Unified Music, Music Technology, Harmony and Composition, and AP Music Theory. Many of those students also participate in extracurricular ensembles including Jazz Band, Marching Band, Honors Band, Bucket Band, annual musical productions, Chamber Orchestra, Singers, Concert Choir, male and female a capella groups, Color Guard, Winter Guard, and Winter Percussion. Several students representing Reed Intermediate, Newtown Middle School and Newtown High School were selected to participate in this year’s regional and state music festivals. Newtown’s program is recognized for its excellence through the CT High School Theater Awards, USBands (2022-23 state champions and national championship bronze medalists), and various Jazz competitions. Younger students are benefitting from HEMMA (High School/Elementary School Music Mentoring Association) in which high school students tutor younger children in beginning instrumental lessons and music theory skills. The newly established Tri-M Music Honor Society has inspired high school music students to participate in additional performances as well as support their peers throughout the district. NHS seniors are presenting a number of Capstone Projects that focus on music and the fine arts. Music students frequently perform for school and community events and have traveled throughout the country representing Newtown and making music. Our music teachers have been recognized in various capacities, including Newtown Teacher of the Year, serving as guest conductors in area music festivals, and writing curriculum for the College Board. Over the years, many Newtown graduates have gone on to be composers, music teachers, performers, conductors, musical theater performers and tech, and music therapists. Michelle Hiscavich, Newtown’s Director of Visual and Performing Arts, is “proud to have the hard work and efforts of the music teachers recognized and appreciates that the Newtown community acknowledges the value of the arts in every child’s education. The study of music enables our students to become well-rounded individuals. Newtown’s students have fun making music while also developing discipline, perseverance, self-confidence, teamwork and communication skills - highly sought-after skills in today’s workforce.” About The NAMM Foundation The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 15,000 member companies and individual professionals. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org. |