RESTON, VA (May 19, 2015)—Today our colleagues at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation released a report, “Striking a Chord: The Public’s Hopes and Beliefs for K-12 Music Education in the United States 2015.” This public opinion study conducted for the NAMM Foundation by the research firm Grunwald Associates LLC discovered what should not be a surprise to anyone: 77 percent of teachers and 64 percent of parents believe that music and arts education are “extremely” or “very important.”
“Music is the answer. This report illustrates the collective agreement with this sentiment.”
“We hope to use these findings as we move forward in advocating for music for all students,” said Michael A. Butera, Executive Director and CEO National Association for Music Education (NAfME). “Students are yearning for meaningful education that taps into who they are as people—not just rote learning that enables them to fill out a bubble test of questions. Music is the answer. This report illustrates the collective agreement with this sentiment.”
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National Association for Music Education, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century. With more than 60,000 members, the organization is the voice of music education in the United States.