Fayette County Public Schools has landed on a list of the Best Communities for Music Education.
The National Association of Music Merchants foundation aka NAMMS, recognizes districts and individual schools that excel in offering comprehensive music programs to students. FCPS, which has a music program in each and every school, was the only district in Kentucky to make this year’s list.
Kim Lyon, 2020 Vision Program Manager, says Lexington’s strong Arts Community deserves a good deal of the credit.
"What we found is you don't always have to provide the music program inside the school walls. We really love getting our students out into the community and I think that really was something they were looking for to see whether or not we work together in those types of partnerships," Lyon told WUKY.
The NAMM foundation compiles the list to applaud the efforts of teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders in an effort to assure that music education remains part of the core curriculum.
Lyon adds that educators are slowly coming to the realization of how music shapes the whole person.
"It helps to develop a student's brain and their mind and their way of thinking. Those are all, to use a term that's been invoked a lot lately, those twenty-first century skills. We're talking critical thinking, problem solving, and all of those are taught through the arts," Lyon said.