Peter, Paul and Mary musician, former Yankees center fielder turned jazz guitarist to release music education survey, 10 am May 19

Legendary musician Peter Yarrow of Peter Paul and Mary fame, Disney Channel star Doc Shaw and New York Yankees center fielder turned jazz guitarist Bernie Williams will join a panel of researchers and music experts at a Newsmakers news conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, in the Murrow Room to unveil a new nationwide study of 1,000 teachers and 800 parents on music education.

Entitled "Striking a Chord: The Public’s Hope and Beliefs for K-12 Music Education in the United States 2015," responds to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 that elevated math, reading and other subjects tied to high-stakes tests above other elements of a well-rounded academic experience.

As a result of the bill, many school districts cut back on arts and music programs. The unintended consequences resonated nationwide by 2010 when, according to the U.S. Department of Education, 40 percent of high schools didn’t require coursework in the arts for graduation.

Creating a balance between school subject matter and testing are part of the current debate over reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which is now moving through Congress.

Panelists at Tuesday’s Newsmaker include Yarrow, a renowned folk singer and education activist; Shaw, an actor, singer and rapper who is active in the White House-sponsored Turnaround Arts program; Williams, a former New York Yankees center fielder and now a jazz and classical guitar artist (Williams’ number – 51 - will be retired by the Yankees on May 24); Peter Grunwald, a pollster and education researcher who serves as president of Grunwald Associates LLC; and Joe Lamond, president and chief executive of the NAMM Foundation, a leading funder of music education research.

Like all Newsmakers events, this news conference is open to credentialed media and Club members free of charge. No advance registration is required.

CONTACT:
Newsmaker Committee Co-Chair Jamie Horwitz,
202-549-4921, [email protected]