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Far Hills Country Day School (FH) has been honored with the SupportMusic Merit Award from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education for the sixth time.
The SupportMusic Merit Award recognizes individual schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in providing music access and education to all students.
To qualify for the SupportMusic Merit Award, FH answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, and support for the music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
"Far Hills is incredibly proud of our award-winning Music Department and its continued success," said Georgia Zaiser, Head of School. "We see great value in incorporating music education into our academic curriculum. In fact, a recent study found that music education has a significant positive impact on psychological well-being, which improves students’ academic performance. All students at Far Hills have the opportunity to experience the many benefits of music education with our outstanding faculty. We appreciate that the NAMM Foundation recognizes our faculty’s hard work and dedication.”
“It is no secret that music education plays an important role in a student’s growth,” said Amy Burns, Lower School Music Teacher/Performing Arts Department Manager. “Music stimulates children’s brain development, helps them with memorization skills, encourages them to connect with others, builds their confidence, teaches them discipline and perseverance, develops creative thinking, and promotes team building and life skills. I am proud to work for a school that has a community committed to supporting the arts.”
This award recognizes that FH leads the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This legislation guides policy implementation in the states and replaces the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). NCLB is often criticized for overemphasizing testing while leaving behind subjects such as music. ESSA recommends music and the arts as essential elements of a well-rounded education for all children.