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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Lisala Beatty, Director of Music and the Brain at Building for the Arts
4:42:40
ยท
3 min
Lisala Beatty, Director of Music and the Brain at Building for the Arts, testified about the importance of music education in New York City public schools and the impact of their program. She emphasized the neurological benefits of learning music and the need for resources to support arts education in schools.
- Music and the Brain has improved school and life skills for over 58,000 NYC students annually, partnering with 152 public schools across all five boroughs.
- The program provides a robust music curriculum, piano keyboard labs, and ongoing support for music teachers without charging schools.
- Beatty requested $50,000 in city council support to maintain and expand their program through three citywide initiatives.
Lisala Beatty
4:42:40
Thank you so much chair Joseph and chair Rivera for this opportunity.
4:42:46
My name is Lisala Beatty, and I'm the director of Music and the Brain.
4:42:50
We are a program of a nonprofit called Building for the Arts.
4:42:54
And for the last twenty years, I've spent my time, thankfully, with this program in hundreds of schools in New York City as we support music education.
4:43:05
Music in the Brain is a foundational school day music program, and we integrate musicianship and piano learning as a pathway to lifelong skills for kindergarten through twelfth graders.
4:43:18
Neurological research shows that learning to read music and play an instrument like the piano is akin to a full body workout for the brain.
4:43:28
The arts help motivate every kind of learner to succeed, and our New York City Students really need focus, they need critical and creative thinking, fine motor, social and emotional skills to succeed.
4:43:41
Certified music and other New York City Arts Educators struggle to find resources to teach.
4:43:48
They need curriculum materials, instruments, and classroom space to give students meaningful arts instruction.
4:43:55
And the arts teachers, of course, have a tremendous opportunity to impact the most students.
4:43:59
They see every student in the building.
4:44:02
But they need community support.
4:44:05
Music education in particular strengthens fine motor skills, confidence, literacy, math skills and more.
4:44:12
And for twenty eight years, Music and the Brain has improved school and life skills for more than 58,000 New York City students annually.
4:44:21
We impact a 60 music teachers each year, and we are currently partnered in 152 public schools across each of the five boroughs.
4:44:32
That also indicates 49 city council districts.
4:44:36
We provide schools with who have music teachers a robust general music curriculum and a diverse repertoire, 16 station piano keyboard labs, a web platform with a virtual piano that students can access at home, and ongoing support for music teachers.
4:44:54
Columbia University research shows a correlation between school partnership with music and the brain and higher scores on third grade standardized ELA and math tests including English language learners, along with dozens of other areas of impact.
4:45:11
We never charge New York City schools for our resources, and we haven't done that for now almost thirty years.
4:45:19
But we have over 35 New York City school applications on a waiting list, and Building for the Arts, our parent organization has applied for $50,000 of city council support to maintain and expand our program through three citywide initiatives.
4:45:35
In closing, I'll just say that I am a proud product of New York City Public Schools.
4:45:40
I'm a performing vocalist.
4:45:42
I've gotten to travel the world because of music.
4:45:45
Everything I've done has has been impacted by music education, and I thank you for your time and consideration and support for arts education.