The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2024 Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) Awards, a signature program now in its 25th year of recognizing and celebrating school districts and individual schools for their support and commitment to music education and their efforts to ensure access to music for all students as part of a well-rounded education.
Two awards are given: Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) for school districts and the Support Music Merit Award (SMMA) for individual school sites. Both reach K-12 schools and school districts throughout the U.S. and offer opportunities to increase awareness and support for music programs. This year’s NAMM Foundation honors over 1,000 districts and individual school sites including public, private, charter, and parochial schools that have the highest commitment to producing exceptional music programs.
“Our unwavering commitment is steadfast in embracing and rewarding educators, administrators, parents, and community leaders who applaud and support comprehensive music instruction as a fundamental part of core learning opportunities,” said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. “These leaders offer an extraordinary model of teaching that ignites a foundation of success we can all honor and celebrate.”
The schools and communities recognized by Best Communities for Music Education demonstrate a commitment to ensuring music learning opportunities are available for every student and provide an example for other communities to follow.
For the first time in NAMM's 25-year history, Murray County Schools has received this national award and recognition for the first time. "I'm very honored, blessed, and proud of all our Music Programs in Murray County", said Gladden Middle School Band Director, Mr. Greg Burns. Several students from Gladden Middle School chimed in on the following question: "Why is Music Education Important?"
"Music Education improves and develops language skills in children. Music stimulates the brain, and with its varied sounds and lyrics, students are exposed to a large amount of vocabulary in a short period of time. Also, Music provides exposure to other languages, which creates a foundation for the student's ability to understand and communicate in other languages." By McKinley Hampton, 7th Grader
"Music Education is good to build talent. It brings happiness into life when you play for other people. It can bring joy just to hear the music you're playing. Just being in a band can build relationships with other people. You can create art with your music." by Aanna Gillespie, 7th Grader
"Music Education goes beyond what you see at first glance. It's an experience. Far more than just a class you take during school. It's not just something you pick up and put down in an instant, it's something that stays with you for a long time, maybe even forever. It's not only a hobby, but a lasting passion that instills the importance and values of hard work and dedication." by Bella Elder, 8th Grader
Congratulations to all of the Music Education Programs in Murray County for all of their tremendous hard work, passion, dedication, and commitment to all of the students every single day in the classroom.
-Respectfully Submitted by Mr. Greg Burns, Gladden Middle School Band Director
We would also like to give a big shout-out to Mr. Greg Burns for his efforts in leading this cause and improving music education in Murray County. Mr. Burns, You Are Murray.