U.S. Senate Passes Resolution Supporting Music Education as Part of a Complete Education for Children

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products association, today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 121 on Tuesday. The Resolution states that music education grounded in rigorous instruction is an important component of a well-rounded academic curriculum and should be available to every student in every school.

According to NAMM, the Resolution underscores the vital need for all children to receive the many scholastic, social and developmental benefits that are associated with making music.

Through its Congressional advocacy activities, NAMM was an integral source for helping to initiate the Resolution, which was also unanimously passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Each March, the association’s staff, members of its Board of Directors, Members and advocacy partners visit members of Congress face-to-face to discuss the urgent necessity for music education in schools, and address the decline or absence of music instruction in schools, especially for low-income students.

The constituents present research conducted by the NAMM Foundation and the NAMM-sponsored Harris and Gallup Polls, which revealed statistics such as 93 percent of Americans agree that the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for children, and that 96 percent of school principals agree that participating in music education encourages and motivates students to stay in school.

Earlier this month, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the U.S. representatives who introduced House Concurrent Resolution 121 to the Senate, sent a letter to David Walker, the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), requesting that the GAO conduct a study on access to music and arts education in the American public school system since passage of the No Child Left Behind Act.

“No child should be deprived of the chance to explore his or her creativity in a nurturing educational environment,” said Dodd. “Picking up a musical instrument, a paint brush or a script can allow a child to discover a hidden talent and can serve as a much-needed positive influence in the midst of the many difficult decisions that young people face today. I am hopeful that the GAO will act quickly to deliver findings about the current condition of arts education in American public schools so that we can seek to improve it during the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.”

The day after Sens. Dodd and Alexander introduced the Resolution, Chip Averwater, vice chairman of NAMM and chairman of AMRO Music in Memphis, Tenn., wrote a letter to Sen. Alexander in appreciation of his support of music education in Tennessee, and in recognition of the benefits it brings to students. The letter was also signed by 77 AMRO Music employees.

“The leadership and board members of NAMM, the international music products association, join me in thanking you for these recent actions,” Averwater stated in the letter. “We will make sure that our 9,000 Members, as well as the more than 120 music and art, parent and civic organizations who are affiliated with the SupportMusic Coalition, are aware of your leadership on this important issue.”

According to Mary Luehrsen, director of public affairs and government relations, NAMM, supporting music education is a business and moral imperative for the entire music products industry.

“Our industry Members and the public believe that making music and music education is vital to a quality education for all children,” Luehrsen said. “These ideas need to translate into public action to assure that music programs are thriving to benefit all children. NAMM is committed to moving this policy agenda forward. This most recent action by the U.S. Senate and a call for a GAO study is a significant step. We are proud and grateful for this action by the Senate, and we urge our Members and local communities to refer to this important Resolution in their local and regional advocacy efforts.”