DUBOIS – The DuBois Area Middle School recently received the SupportMusic Merit Award from the NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The DAMS has joined 96 schools across the country to receive the prestigious award this year.
The SupportMusic Merit Award is awarded to individual schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.
To qualify for the SupportMusic Merit Award, the DAMS 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 with school officials and reviewed by the Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kan., an affiliate of the University of Kansas.
School Principal Wendy Benton stated, “Music education is an essential component of educating the whole child. Our music programs strive to introduce a variety of art forms for students to explore.
“Students are encouraged to express their creativity and engage their minds under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Sensor. We are honored to be the recipients of this prestigious award. We truly appreciate the support we have received from our school community to make this goal a reality for our students.”
The announcement of receiving the NAMM Foundation’s SupportMusic Merit Award brings
Attention to the importance of keeping music education a part of school’s core education for all students and music’s vital role in student’s success in school, stated a press release on the DASD Web site.
The SupportMusic Merit Award is an important part of the NAMM Foundation’s efforts to advocate for school-based music education. Numerous studies have demonstrated that learning to play music can boost other academic and social skills, such as math and learning to cooperate in a group, the press release further stated.
At DAMS, every sixth grade student is enrolled in a music class. Every sixth through eighth grade student has the opportunity to participate in band and chorus, according to the DASD.
This year there are more than 370 students involved in chorus and band at DAMS. Many of these students participate in both band and chorus, according to the DASD. “The middle school teachers strongly believe that their ensembles are benefitting from the elementary music classes, and this year’s sixth grade band has 94 students, making it the largest sixth grade band in many years.”