It is a strange and trying time for all of us in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We certainly understand times are tough for you, as it is for us. We have been proud to bring School Band & Orchestra for free for more than two decades and we will continue to provide you with free subscriptions during the pandemic. However, we would like your consideration in these difficult times to help support our efforts here at School Band & Orchestra to keep our information flowing and to provide you with a continuous stream of current and vital information when you need it the most.
It is with the utmost sincerity we ask you to consider supporting our efforts here with a small donation which will allow our staff the ability to keep these interesting stories about your chosen career coming to you in a consistent and timely basis. Your consideration is greatly appreciated. We at School Band & Orchestra wish nothing but the best for you, your school, your family and co-workers. We hope you continue to remain healthy during this most strenuous of times.
Calling it the “Glee Effect,” The Harris Poll®, a Nielsen Company, has released new findings that show the majority of Americans believe music education prepares students for future careers and problem-solving. And the numbers responding favorably about music education have risen significantly since the original 2007 Harris Poll on music education, commissioned by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), then known as MENC.
“I am thrilled, but not necessarily surprised, by these new findings from the Harris Poll,” said NAfME Executive Director and CEO Michael A. Butera. “In discussions about education policy, career readiness, and creating a skilled workforce, the emphasis is increasingly on ensuring our students, employees, and future leaders have a broad range of adaptable capabilities. We need industry leaders who can think ‘beyond the bubbles’ creatively, to problem-solve and innovate. We, at NAfME, have long known that music education helps students to be prepared precisely for these future challenges. The new Harris Poll supports our mission, orchestrating success for students all across America, and we are grateful they had the foresight to commission this nationally relevant poll themselves.”
The poll illuminates five key findings:
“These new findings from the recent Harris Poll on music education bolster what we have been saying in our recently launched Broader Minded campaign (www.broaderminded.com), which was just named a 2014 Power of A Silver Award Winner by the ASAE: Center for Association Leadership,” says NAfME Assistant Executive Director Christopher Woodside. “The value proposition of classroom music could not be more clear—and within a matter of a few years, the number of people who attest to this critical value has increased significantly. The intrinsic value of music programs has become ever more apparent as students now enter the workforce, equipped with necessary 21st-century skills gleaned from their music programs.”
The complete findings of the 2014 Harris Poll, including data tables, may be read here.