Last month, Alfred Music representatives Ron Manus and Jennifer Paisley-Schuch joined other industry leaders, arts education activists, and musicians for the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Advocacy Fly-In.
Manus, chief business development officer of Alfred Music, and Paisley-Schuch, trade shows and partnerships director of Alfred Music, were in Washington, D.C. from May 22 to 24 for the event.
The group met with members of Congress and other policy stakeholders to advocate for music education and joined The NAMM Foundation in awarding the SupportMusic Champion Award to Senator Robert Casey (PA). This year, the Fly-In focused on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed into law in 2015 by President Obama, as it faces underfunding currently. The act ensures that music education is a part of a well-rounded education for all K-12 students.
“I am inspired every day by the stories that teachers, students, and parents share with us about their music making journeys and I am so grateful that Alfred Music gets to play a part,” said Manus. “It is up to us to ensure that every child who has the desire to learn and participate has access to a quality music education. Because if we don’t, who will?”
The Alfred representatives took part in various advocacy training at the Newseum and went to a lunchtime session on current policy trends presented by PBS News Hour contributor, New York Times columnist, and Turnaround Arts artist David Brooks.
On Wednesday, Manus and Paisley-Schuch put their training to work and met with elected officials to advocate for school-level music programs and the benefits that music education offers students, such as increased brain function, focus, and language development, as detailed in a new research study from Northwestern University. Manus and Paisley-Schuch were also part of a special Congressional reception on May 24 in the Mansfield Room at the U.S. Capitol.
“We envision a world in which the joy of making music is a precious element of daily living for everyone; a world in which every child has a deep desire to learn music and a recognized right to be taught; and in which every adult is a passionate champion and defender of the right,” said Manus.
