Littleton Schools earn music education award

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CENTENNIAL – The walls of the band room at Arapahoe High School are lined with accolades. However, Dr. Ed Cannava says his latest recognition is even more important because it's for the entire community.

"This award is huge," said Cannava, the director of bands at Arapahoe High School.

The Littleton School District won recognition from the National Association of Music Merchants as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education." For the last nine years, NAMM has commended communities around the country for supporting music because the organization feels it is necessary to produce well-rounded students.

"Children engaged in music will be the innovation leaders of tomorrow, and there is no better way to build life-long participation in music than with a solid base of music education," said Mary Luehrsen, executive director of the NAMM Foundation in a released statement.

Cannava says Littleton Schools tries to infuse music into the education of students from kindergarten to 12th grade. For example, at Centennial Academy of Fine Arts Education, every student participates in some sort of music program.

"This community is so into making the arts very much valued," said Cannava.

He says one of the key components of Arapahoe's programs is small group instruction and the use of music professionals to teach students once-a-week.

"It's amazing because the progress that can happen with kids learning from professionals just on their instrument and gaining that on a weekly basis," said Cannava.

"You kind of learn what being professional is like," said Dave Ellis, a senior who plays trombone. "I mean I've learned more from this band program than I think I could have anywhere else."

Senior Roxy Steinberg plays the flute. She says the music programs in Littleton try to foster the emotional component to music and performing.

"The hours we put in, you can't help but have a passion for it," said Steinberg. "We wouldn't be here if we didn't."

Cannava says he tries to take his student on as many trips as possible to venues like Carnegie Hall. He believes the trips are not only fun, but are a valuable learning experience.

"That kind of growth for kids, you cannot, I mean it's incomparable," he said.

Only two districts in Colorado won the "Best Communities for Music Education" award. The Academy 20 District in Colorado Springs also won. Nationwide, 110 school districts received recognition.

Though, Littleton is one of the smaller districts in the Denver metro area, this is the third time in the last 10 years it has won this distinction.

"It's pretty sweet to win an award like this in a district like this," said Cannava.