Friday, July 5, 2002

School system gets high marks for music education

The Fulton County School System has been recognized for a third consecutive year in a nationwide survey of public and private school programs that identify the top 100 places to live in America for quality music education.

The list includes 56 communities making their first appearance, six returning from the 2000 survey, 18 repeating from 2001, and 20 three-time districts, of which Fulton County is listed.

"This distinction is a result of concerted efforts on the part of our dedicated staff of the finest music educators anywhere, supportive school-based leaders, strong central office leadership at all levels, parents who make the right choices for their children, and a Board of Education that unquestionably knows and understands the value of a quality music education for all students," said Jay Wucher, Music Coordinator for the Fulton County School System.

"It is a pleasure to work with the Fulton County School System and its music program," said Harry Bergwall, manager of a Roswell Ken Stanton music store and a representative of the National Association of Music Merchants, which together with the VH1 Save the Music Foundation sponsors special music initiatives for local schools.

"This is a very prestigious honor for Fulton County Schools. It shows the system's commitment to music education and its positive effects on student learning."

A recent survey from a researcher at the University of California-Irvine shows that high school students who are involved in music programs scored more than 100 points higher on the SAT than their non-musical peers.

The study also indicated that music students have better spatial abilities ­ necessary for math and science success ­ and have improved reading skills, higher self esteem, and are less likely to be involved in gang or drug activity.

The third annual survey was conducted jointly by the country's top organizations devoted to music and learning. The American Music Conference joined the Music Teachers National Association, the National School Boards Association, Yamaha Corporation of America and VH1 Save the Music Foundation in creating the survey and interpreting the results.

Thousands of public school and independent teachers, school and district administrators, school board members, parents and community leaders, representing communities in all 50 states, participated in the web-based survey during February, March and April.

The participants answered detailed questions about funding, enrollment, student-teacher ratios, participation in music classes, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, participation in private music lessons and other factors in their communities' quality of music education. The responses were verified with district officials, and the sponsoring organizations reviewed the data.

The survey results show that successful music programs are to be found in communities that balance measurable resources, such as budgets and buildings, with less tangible assets such as the will to make quality music education a reality.

The top schools for music education are to be found in urban communities and rural ones, in wealthy areas and not-so-wealthy ones, but the common thread is that they benefit from the support of parents, teachers, school decision-makers and community leaders who value music education highly.