Bellingham Public Schools Receives National Recognition for Music Education Support
Bellingham Public Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 25th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Bellingham Fine Arts Coordinator Marie Forte 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.
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Peter Marano writes, “Music education is not just about playing music; it is a cornerstone for nurturing vital skills essential for our students’ future endeavors: fostering creativity, instilling discipline, and deepening understanding. By instilling these qualities, music education empowers students to evolve into the visionary leaders of tomorrow.”
Marie Forte, the Fine Arts Coordinator, states, “I am incredibly proud and grateful for this honor for our music program and community, and especially for our students and music faculty. We have worked very hard to build our program and it is extraordinary to be recognized on a national level for the second time in two years. Last year, we received an Honorable Mention from the Music for All organization for Pandemic Perseverance, which recognized how we taught and supported our students through remote and hybrid learning. This award is a credit to the entire community and how Bellingham supports and values the importance of music education.”
Chris DeChellis, BHS Senior Class of 2024 writes, “Being in the Bellingham Music Program for 8 years has taught me many valuable life lessons and skills. I have made many great friends and memories and it is a way for me to express myself through the music we play and the way we play it. Music is an outlet for my emotions and showcases the effort and time I put into being prepared for all of our music events.”
Bellingham Friends of Music President Beth Sullivan writes, “As parents, we are honored to provide volunteer and financial support to Bellingham Music through the booster group Bellingham Friends of Music. Music continues to have life changing impact on our children. We have watched our kids use the valuable life skills of hard work, practice, and teamwork to go from the first hesitant notes of beginner band to winning spots in music competitions. We are very grateful for the dedicated teachers and support personnel that allow our children to continue to thrive in the music programs.”
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.
Bellingham Public Schools has a comprehensive music education program where students receive formal instruction from highly qualified music educators in grades PreK - 12. Throughout the program, music instruction is focused on interactive, engaging music-making through drumming, Orff instruments, recorders, ukulele, singing, instrumental music and more. Students participate in choral singing beginning at the elementary level and continue at Bellingham Memorial and High School. At the 5th grade level, students can begin their instrumental music experience with traditional band instruments. In addition to all the core academic course offerings, Bellingham offers a variety of co-curricular activities such as Jazz Band, Marching Band, Color Guard, Chamber Music, Percussion Ensemble and a free Summer Music Camp to name a few. With strong support and advocacy from the Bellingham Friends of Music, scholarships are offered throughout the year for music lessons, summer music opportunities, visiting clinicians and field trips to see professional performances. The Bellingham Music program is thankful for the strong support of the School Committee, School Administration and community partners that have made our music program note-worthy and a meaningful program for the youth of Bellingham.
About The NAMM Foundation
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. For more information, visit www.nammfoundation.org.
