Wahoo Public Schools & Wahoo School Community Receives National Recognition for Music Education Support
Launch the media gallery 1 playerDistrict's music program earns NAMM Foundation's distinction for FIFTH straight year!
When you do things with consistency, great results are possible. Congratulations to the Wahoo Public Schools Music Department and the community at large for the ongoing support of Music in our community! Wahoo Public Schools named - BEST COMMUNITIES IN MUSIC EDUCATION 5 years in a row!
Wahoo Public Schools and the Wahoo Public Schools Community have been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 26th 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, Wahoo Public Schools 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.
“The passion and support surrounding the music education and fine arts programs at Wahoo Public Schools is second to none! It’s an honor to be one of only three school districts in the state of Nebraska to receive this distinction and we are very fortunate to be supported by a school community that holds the fine arts and music making in high esteem!” said WPS Director of Learning Dr. Josh Snyder. “Our school community continues to inspire students in the fine arts, and we look forward to seeing what is next for this department! None of this would be possible without our instructors, our students' families, and our Music Boosters, who put countless hours into providing opportunities for our students to be successful!"
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.
Wahoo Public Schools also received this honor in 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024.
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. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.