[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S2024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ADDITIONAL SATEMENTS

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                            MUSIC EDUCATION

 Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise with great pride that my 
home State of West Virginia received special recognition today for its 
support of music education in our public school system. The recognition 
came from three organizations that are committed to music education--
the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, the National Association of Music 
Merchants--NAMM, and the National Association for Music Education--
NAfME.
  I want to extend my personal thanks to the leaders of all three 
organizations for recognizing West Virginia, for their support of our 
efforts to rebuild music programs in our State and for making a special 
day even more special--with an award ceremony today that included 
performances by singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton, jazz guitarist and 
former New York Yankees champion Bernie Williams and Red Hot Chili 
Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
  I enjoyed their performances, but I also was moved by their stories 
of personal and professional benefits from their music education. Their 
stories made clear how the opportunity to learn about the arts and to 
perform as an artist helps students' ideas and realities beyond words 
and numbers in textbooks.
  But even more special was the fact that the Save The Music award 
ceremony included a performance from a student jazz ensemble from 
Shepherdstown Middle School, which received a VH1 Save The Music grant 
in 2012. I was so proud to listen to these young musicians. They are a 
wonderful example of the extraordinary way music can impact the lives 
of students, not just in West Virginia but all over the country.
  I would like to congratulate these students on their performance 
today and on their many accomplishments leading up to this special 
day--and I wish them many more successes in the future. Also, I would 
like to especially thank Shepherdstown Middle School Principal 
Elizabeth Best and Shepherdstown music teacher Mrs. Chad Conant for 
their generous contributions and assistance.
  On behalf of the State of West Virginia, I was honored to accept, 
along with fellow West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller and Randall 
Reid-Smith, Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Culture and 
History, a Support Music Award from NAMM, which works in partnership 
with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation and NAfME.
  I deeply appreciate the acknowledgement of our efforts to support 
music education. And, of course, I deeply appreciate the contributions 
to music education that these organizations make in West Virginia and 
throughout the United States.
  The VH1 Save the Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization 
dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in 
America's public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of 
music as part of each child's complete education. To date, VH1 Save the 
Music has provided more than $49.5 million in new musical instruments 
to 1,850 public schools in more than 192 school districts around the 
country, impacting the lives of over 2.1 million children. Research 
sponsored by NAMM shows clearly that students participating in music 
education do better in school and go on to college.
  Since 2009, the VH1 Save the Music Foundation has given instrumental 
music education grants valued at $1.05 million to 35 schools in 30 
counties throughout West Virginia. And I am informed that the 
Foundation is committed to funding music education in all 55 counties 
of the Mountain State. This initiative started when I was Governor, and 
I am pleased to see it moving forward so positively.
  This collaboration is a true example of the huge benefits of public-
private partnerships. It is also a strong incentive for all of us to 
work for more Federal and State funding to enhance music education in 
our public schools.
  In today's global economy, creativity is essential. Consequently, 
education in the arts is more important than ever because education in 
the arts helps students be inventive, resourceful and imaginative. 
Music education is not just a privilege--it is essential.

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