Hendrick Hudson School Earns Music Education Award

From Hendrick Hudson Schools: The Hendrick Hudson School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Hendrick Hudson is one of only 4% of districts across the nation receiving the prestigious award for 2017.

The Best Communities Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in providing music access and education to all students. To qualify for the designation, the district provided details about graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs.

“When I reflect on the experiences I had growing up attending public school, and the teachers that influenced and motivated me, music is at the forefront,” said superintendent Joseph Hochreiter. “To lead a school district which has been recognized with this prestigious and highly selective award is not only heartwarming but also very inspiring. This is a recognition our entire community, staff and students should be very proud of. I am very proud of them."

The NAMM Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education Award brings attention to the importance of keeping music education a critical component of curriculum and making it available to all students. It also highlights music’s vital role in students’ overall success in school and the personal benefits of making music.

“In my 31 years teaching in Hen Hud I have witnessed a tremendous growth in our music program,” said Blue Mountain Middle School band director Amy Richter. “Yes, our performing groups continue to win many awards, but more important is the fact that every child in the district studies music for nine out of their 13 years in school, and all students get opportunities to perform a wide variety of musical genres in their music classes. The Hen Hud music program is truly for every child."

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. In a series of landmark studies by scientists and researchers at Northwestern University, a link was found between students in community music programs and life-long academic success, including higher high school graduation rates and college attendance. Other studies have indicated that music education lays the foundation for individual excellence in group settings, creative problem solving and flexibility in work situations, as well learning how to give and receive constructive criticism to excel.

Hendrick Hudson’s music faculty includes: Benjamin Acrish, Rebecca Correllus, Erica Denler, Kimberly Dunkin, Amy Richter, Doug Franck, Samantha Hecht, Mary Landry, Lauren Morabito, Claude Preece, Roberta Roberts.

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,300 members around the world. Its mission is to advance active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs.

Photo courtesy of HHSD (A recent “side-by-side rehearsal” at Hendrick Hudson High School, during which middle school musicians had the opportunity to play alongside high school students, providing them with a unique glimpse of the high school music program.)