Peavey Supports Music Education in Schools Nationwide

WASHINGTON — Peavey recently joined a group of music-industry leaders in a visit to Capitol Hill to advocate for more support of music education in K-12 schools nationwide.Organized by NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, the group met with more than 30 key legislators to ask them to support music and arts education in the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act, which is currently under debate in Congress. Courtland Gray, executive vice president of Peavey Electronics, and Cecilia Derrington, manager of industrial and community relations, led a delegation that met with Mississippi Senators Trent Lott and Thad Cochran, as well as Representative Chip Pickering, to discuss research findings linking music and arts education in public schools to children's improved academic performance and development."We believe that music is a very important factor in fostering creativity in children and young adults," said Gray. "Studies show that kids who are involved in music are more likely to stay in school and more likely to become high achievers in all areas of their education.""It is important for Peavey Electronics to continue promoting music in education not solely for the benefit of the music industry, but for the future of all our children."Former Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley and singer and songwriter Tony Orlando joined the group in lobbying for increased music education in schools, and both Orlando and GRAMMY award-winning R&B artist Mya spoke about the benefits of music education at a reception hosted by NAMM and the VH1 Save the Music Foundation."I beg you elected officials here today to please make sure the next generation of children, no matter where they live or how much money their parents make, have equal access to music and the arts, so that they can reach the full potential of their spirits," said Orlando.