Farmingdale, NY - June 30, 2017 - For the fourth consecutive year, the Farmingdale School District has been awarded the honor of “Best Communities for Music Education” by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). Receiving a “Best Communities for Music Education Award” means the District has demonstrated commitment to providing access to music programs and high music-education standards.
“As part of our commitment to educating the whole child, the Farmingdale School District provides every student with a robust fine arts curriculum, including music, art and drama,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Lorentz. “We are honored to receive this designation from the NAMM foundation. It is a well-deserved tribute to the dedication, diligence, passion and excellence of our students, our music department and our community.”
Receiving this award recognizes the investment of the District’s administration, the Board of Education, teachers and parents who believe in music education and are working to ensure that music is part of a child’s complete education. During the18 years since its inception, the NAMM survey measures budgetary commitment to music, the presence of highly qualified music teachers, adherence to state and national standards, types of musical experiences offered, and opportunities for performance and competition.
“Farmingdale teachers are very pleased to once again be awarded this distinction,” said Farmingdale School District Fine Arts Director Rita Zirpolo Padden. “Music teachers work diligently every year to share their love of music with their students and to set ambitious musical goals. We see the results in music rooms, at performances every week and at the annual NYSSMA Majors adjudication; but it is very validating to have a national organization assess the district’s musical standards and award this honor.”
More than 2,000 school districts participated in the 2016-17 survey with 512 districts being awarded the “Best Communities in Music Education” by the NAMM Foundation, a nonprofit organization supported by the National Association of Music Merchants.
“These districts make a strong commitment to music education in the core curriculum supporting its essential value to a well-rounded education for every child,” said Mary Luehrsen, NAMM Foundation executive director.
For more information about the Farmingdale School District, please visit the District’s website www.farmingdaleschools.org.