North Penn School Board Director Cathy McMultrie. (Submitted photo)
(The following is a submission from North Penn School Board Director Cathy McMurtrie, formerly Cathy Wesley. The views expressed within are her own.)
Dear North Penn Community,
As we close our March, my letter will focus on Music in our Schools Month, celebrated each year at this time. The North Penn School District is known for its robust and successful music programs, including band, orchestra, choir, our theatre program, and so much more. The district has won the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation Best Communities for Music Education award (BCME) for 12 years in a row! Receiving this award truly reflects the district's continued commitment to providing a quality music education to all of our students in all grades.
I have always been in awe of having musical talent, singing, playing an instrument. Attending several of the musicals and concerts in our district has reinforced and confirmed just how much talent we have in our district, in both our students and staff. The staff in our music programs are highly dedicated professionals who understand just how important music education is. Even for students who do not continue their musical education after high school, the lessons learned are priceless. Music teaches us discipline, that we’re not always going to be great at something when we first start, but practice, practice, and practice will help us improve.
Music, in all its forms, is good for us healthwise, whether producing it or listening to it. It has proven to reduce stress, reduce depression, and manage pain. Students, especially, benefit from music. Their cognitive ability has shown to improve, as well as their motor skills. The importance of music in a student's development is significant. I am happy to be part of a school board that is committed to all of our musical programs that support our students. I look forward to attending more musicals and concerts. It is one of the great joys of this job to experience all of the talent coming from our schools. Each and every day our students bring great pride to this district, in both their performances in music classrooms and academic prowess in the core curriculum.
In closing, I want to share a quote from Beethoven that my eighth grade music teacher wrote in a note to me:
"I wish you music to help with the burdens of life, and to help you release your happiness to others."
Happy Spring! Enjoy the warming weather and new opportunities this time of year brings.
Cathy McMurtrie
North Penn Board of School Directors
This article was previously posted on the old North Penn Now site, and was republished here on April 2, 2024.
