KU research institute determines 'best communities for music education'

Survey assessed numerous factors, opportunities for students

Ask someone to make a list of great American music cities, and you’d likely end up with New Orleans, Nashville and Austin, Texas. Chances are the list maker wouldn’t include New Tripoli, Pa.; Berea, Ohio; and Albion, N.Y. But a recent survey conducted by a KU research institute put the latter names on the list of “Best Communities for Music Education” in the United States.

KU’s Institute for Educational Research and Public Service recently completed a survey for the National Association of Music Merchants that assessed schools across the nation and honored those that provide great opportunities in music education for their students. In all, the survey identified 124 such schools that are dedicated to music education, despite pressures such as an economy that often makes it difficult to adequately fund schools. The schools were notified of the designation in mid-April.

“There are a lot of schools out there that may not have a lot of money, but do have a lot of creative kids, and are making sure all those kids have a chance for music education,” said Karin Chang-Rios, research associate at the center and a methodologist for the survey.

The association, known as NAMM, had conducted the survey for nine years before coming to the institute. This year, researchers and methodologists at the institute assessed the survey, consulted with music education experts, reviewed literature in the field and revised the survey with a weighted system that gave points for various criteria, including music availability to all students, faculty qualification, community partnerships and standards-based learning and curriculum.

The survey was open to all schools. Some applied for elementary schools, some for high schools, while others applied for entire districts.

“The applicant pool had everything from small performance academies to schools with mariachi bands, to districts in Baltimore with literally 100,000 students,” Chang-Rios said. “We saw a passion for music in many of these schools that I didn’t always know was out there.”

Schools and communities that received the designation use it in a variety of ways. Many point to the designation as both justification and recognition of a quality music education program. Families, boosters, students and alumni all were among those who wanted to apply and sing the praises of their local music program.

“These schools can point at these results and say ‘look how much this means to your parents, your families and communities.’ Both of us also have kids involved in music, so to take this data and see how important music is to families and schools was great, personally,” said Becky Eason, associate director of the center about herself and Chang-Rios.

Upon learning of a local district’s selection for the fourth consecutive year, the Cleveland Sun Courier penned an editorial titled “Four years in a row is music to our ears.” The designation apparently can take music programs to new heights, as one applicant from Nutley, N.J., noted.

“I am convinced that Carnegie Hall has invited us to perform, featuring all of our choral and instrumental groups, based upon Nutley being designated a ‘Best Community for Music Education’ last year,” wrote applicant John Vitkosky, whose program performed at the esteemed venue in April.

The institute, directed by Jerry Bailey, associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies, hopes to continue its involvement with the “best community” survey, but in the meantime will continue its two-tiered mission of service to the university and state. Founded in the School of Education in 1997, the institute supports faculty from across the university seeking grant funding by finding potential funding sources, editing applications and administering clerical aspects of the grant, freeing up researchers to focus on the project.

Staff at the institute also assist communities and organizations in securing grant funding for a wide scope of projects.

“You dream up the dream, and we’ll write the grant,” Eason said. “I describe us as being amoeba-like. We can shift and change to meet the needs of the project.”