For the third year in a row, the Comal Independent School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association for Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation.
“We are honored to receive this designation for a third time,” says Andrew Kim, Comal ISD superintendent. “This means that Comal ISD continues to provide great opportunities for students to learn and perform music in our schools across the district.”
The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.
“Keeping music as part of a well-rounded education for our students is a fundamental part of Comal ISD’s strategic plan,” says Carla Schumann, Comal ISD’s director of fine arts.
This recognition would not be possible without the efforts by the district’s teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education a priority. Comal ISD students have an opportunity to learn music from kindergarten to their senior year in high school. A depth of music education is available with choral, orchestral and band ensembles, among other individual opportunities.
In its 23rd year, the 2022 Best Communities for Music Education program has recognized 738 school districts and 80 schools across 44 states for the outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders and their support for music education as part of a well-rounded education for all children.
To qualify for the Best Communities for Music Education designation, Comal ISD annually answers detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities support for the music program and community music-making programs.
Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. Everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training, and social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills and how to give and receive constructive criticism.
Additionally, according to the Texas Cultural Trust, across Texas, almost 900,000 people are employed in creative careers which represents one in 15 jobs.
Congratulations!