Austin, TX – May 21st, 2024 – Eanes ISD 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 25th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Eanes ISD 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.
“It is with pride that we accept the honor of being named a recipient for our 10th year in a row,” said Kerry Taylor, Eanes ISD Fine Arts Director. “This award recognizes our community's commitment to excellence in music education. Our students, staff, administration, parents, community members and local businesses have all played, and continue to play important roles in creating and maintaining the excellence in music education that Eanes ISD is known for.”
“In Eanes ISD, music education is not merely an extracurricular activity but a vital component of a well-rounded education,” said Josue Martinez, Orchestra Director at WEstlake High School. “Music education fosters academic and personal growth, equips students with essential life skills, strengthens community bonds, and opens up a world of opportunities. By investing in music education, we ensure that students develop into well-rounded individuals capable of succeeding in diverse fields and contributing positively to society.”
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.
About Eanes ISD
Eanes ISD offers exceptional Fine Arts programs at all grade levels and campuses. As a crucial component of the District’s Graduate Profile, participation in fine arts programs fosters a well-rounded experience that provides our students a broad range of engagement, develops critical thinking skills, and promotes teamwork, leadership and responsibility. The Eanes community is vitally committed to educational excellence that prepares and inspires all students for life-long success by engaging each student in rigorous academic experiences and enriching opportunities.
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.