Music for All, American Music Conference are Looking for the Best Communities for Music Education

2007 Best Communities for Music Education Survey is Underway!

For the eighth year in a row, [name of sending org] and a coalition of leading music and education organizations are searching for those communities that exemplify quality music education in America.

Is your district destined to become a Best 100 Community for Music Education?

Visiting the American Music Conference (www.amc-music.org) on the Web is the first step in finding out why the survey is important. Now through January 23 you’ll find an online survey form you can use to submit information on behalf of your community. If you prefer, you can forward this message to a school administrator or other local educator who has more of the data close at hand.

Over the years, school districts from Arizona to Illinois have reported that making the ‘Best 100’ list is both an honor and an important tool in preserving and increasing music program budgets.

In fact, the music department at North Babylon Union Free School District in Long Island, N.Y. was recently awarded a $70,000 grant by New York State Senator Owen H. Johnson due to its ‘Best 100’ distinction.

Lisa Vartanian, the creative arts supervisor at Paramus Public Schools in Paramus, N.J. said, “The American Music Conference award allowed us to start a community after-school music program that gave kids that wouldn't normally have the opportunity to play an instrument the chance to do so."

This grant and the positive testimonials from communities nationwide are remarkable victories that clearly demonstrate the importance that a ‘Best 100’ distinction has on both a political and grassroots level.