City music programs lauded

TORRINGTON >> Torrington has been named one of the best communities for music education for the 17th consecutive year by the National Association of Music Merchants.

“Studying music has intrinsic benefits and on its own, is core to learning. Also the links between student success and music education have now been demonstrated by brain researchers in multiple studies,” said Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation, in a press release on the organization website. “The schools and districts our foundation recognizes are building on that connection between music and academics. These schools and districts are models for other educators who see music as a key ingredient in a well-rounded curriculum that makes music available to all children, regardless of zip code.”

Other Connecticut communities recognized in 2017 include: Avon, Bethel, Bristol, Canton, Cheshire, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Newington, Newtown, Plainville, Simsbury, Southington, West Hartford and Westport.

Regional School District No. 8 and the Scarsdale Unified school district were also named on the NAMM list.

This designation from NAMM has been a point of pride for the Torrington schools in recent years, and is noted in a press release on the district website.

According to the release, four percent of school districts across the state were recognized this year.

“This award recognizes that Torrington is leading the way with music learning opportunities as outlined in the new federal education legislation, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The legislation, signed into law in December 2015, and awaiting state implementation designates music and the arts as important elements of wellrounded education for all children,” wrote officials in the release. “Torrington Public Schools have received the national designation of ‘Best Communities for Music Education in America’ seventeen times since 2000. This makes the Torrington Public Schools the most recognized school district in Connecticut for music education.”