For the 9th consecutive year, the Montville Township Public Schools [MTPS] district has been honored by the National Association of Music Merchandisers [NAMM] Foundation. MTPS was awarded NAMM’s nationally recognized “Best Communities for Music Education” [BCME] designation. The NAMM designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.
MTPS was awarded an electronic certificate that clarifies that NAMM awarded the BCME “for Outstanding Support of Music Education – Enriching the Lives of Children and Advancing Student Achievement.”
“The BCME award recognizes the commitment of teachers, students, administrators, BOE members, and parents who believe in the value of music education and are working to ensure that it is part of a complete education for all children,” said the Supervisor of the Arts (K-12) Edward Fleischman. “I am very proud to announce that MTPS has received the ‘Best Communities for Music Education’ for nine consecutive years.”
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Fleischman 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 by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
“This award serves as recognition of the work that we do together, to maintain and grow a strong music and performing arts program for all students of Montville Township Public Schools,” Fleischman added. “I am particularly, very proud of our K-12 music team. They are an outstanding group of educators who strive to do their best each and every day. I am also very thankful for our administrative team.”
Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music: After two years of music education, researchers found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school but also to attend college as well. In addition, everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training. Significantly, listening skills are closely tied to the ability to: perceive speech in a noisy background, pay attention, and keep sounds in memory.
Later in life, individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound: young adults and even older adults who have not played an instrument for up to 50 years show enhanced neural processing compared to their peers. Not to mention, social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism.
“The benefit to our students, of a strong and accessible music program, is evident throughout each district school,” said Superintendent Dr. Thomas A. Gorman. “Music, and the arts, are a priority in all MTPS schools. The positive effects of music on mental and physical health is evident. Through music, students develop skills that help them to listen, learn, and achieve at a focused and confident level. We are very proud of our music – and, indeed all of our Fine, Performing and Applied Arts faculty. Their work is outstanding. It is an honor to receive the NAMM Foundation’s 'Best Communities for Music Education' designation for the 9th year in a row.”
Montville Township Public Schools is a Pre-K to Grade 12 school district located in Montville Township, New Jersey. The district is comprised of five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Over 3,445 students attend the seven Montville Township Public Schools. Music education is available to all students.
To learn more about MTPS please visit www.montville.net.
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 15,000 global member companies and individual professionals worldwide. Founded in 1999, the NAMM Foundation, throughout 2024, is celebrating 25 years of commitment to outstanding support of music education. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.
From marching band to spring musicals, among the district’s seven schools, Montville Township Public Schools hosts more than fifty in-school musical performances annually. Additionally, several MTPS musical groups perform throughout the community and beyond.