The International Band And Orchestral Products Association Joins National SupportMusic Initiative To Keep Music in Schools

Press release
Source: Lippin Group

The International Band And Orchestral Products Association (NABIM) has joined with SupportMusic.com, the Music Education Coalition's initiative and source of information for the largest online effort ever launched in support of school music programs. This affiliation brings NABIM into a valuable network that seeks to advance the coalition's advocacy mission of keeping music strong in schools across the country.

SupportMusic and its anchor website, www.SupportMusic.com offers resources that empower parents, educators and civic organizations to act locally to keep music education strong. The weekly CounterPoint commentary by advocacy expert Dr. John Benham and other tools on the site lead community members through the process of building a credible defense of music education. The initiative was launched by the Music Education Coalition, an entity formed by the International Music Products Association (NAMM) and the National Association for Music Education (MENC). NABIM vigorously supports active participation in recreational music-making and music education, sharing the vision of the Music Education Coalition partners by co-sponsoring the New Horizon community music program with NAMM, and by working other industry organizations to support music education.

"Music education is an essential part of the learning and teaching process," said Robert Sulkow, Director NABIM. "That is why we are thrilled to join this growing coalition and help strengthen the fight to keep music education in schools."

SupportMusic coalition affiliates NABIM and over 90 other organizations are part of a national task force devoted to ensuring that every child has access to music as part of a quality education. Coalition members are resources for one another across the country as they strategize to defend and save failing and at-risk music and arts programs in the nation's classrooms.

Strategies include monthly conference calls with the entire coalition, a call for collective grassroots community efforts wherever the need arises and the sharing of experience and ideas that form the best strategies.

Parents and other interested community members know from experience that music is all too often the first to be sacrificed from the education curriculum, even though a recent Harris Poll revealed that 93 percent of Americans agree that the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for children.

NABIM members have emulated the like-minded grassroots efforts of the coalition for over 70 years. Since the early 90s, when the music products industry was threatened by drastic budget cuts, NABIM responded with the Super Fund Project to promote music participation and the expansion of school music programs. NABIM also granted the VH1 Save the Music program (another SupportMusic affiliate) to preserve school music programs.

About SupportMusic.com

SupportMusic.com is a public service initiative that represents close to seven million individuals who seek to critically impact the resolve and support for music education in local communities around the United States. SupportMusic.com is an advocacy effort that unites over 90 national and regional affiliates with parents and community leaders seeking to improve access and opportunity in music and arts learning. Primarily configured as a website, but also as an ad hoc consortium of concerned individuals and organizations, SupportMusic.com provides tools for grassroots advocacy, promotes messages about the importance of music and the arts as part of learning and disseminates research that substantiates their vital role. To find out how your organization can help keep music in schools log onto www.SupportMusic.com.

About The International Band And Orchestral Products Association

Since its inception in the 1930's, NABIM has sought to further music education by encouraging instrumental music participation and by providing support materials for music educators in recruitment, retention and excellence of education. For more information, please visit www.nabim.org.