The CMA Foundation Celebrates “Music Education’s Biggest Night” with October’s Music Teachers of Excellence Awards

By Julie Anne Jacobs 

When the Country Music Association and key CMA Board members came together in 2011 to establish the philanthropic arm of the trade organization, their focus was to further music education by getting instruments into the hands of the students who needed them.  

Now, more than a decade later, the CMA Foundation is not only providing students with access to music education opportunities, but has gone a step further, taking a more strategic and long-term approach by utilizing data to inform more intentional and sustainable investments.  

With data being a critical component of the CMA Foundation’s efforts, it stands to reason that the cornerstone of this data would be the voices behind the data — the individuals living out these statistics day in and day out, the ones reflecting the true temperature of the music and arts education landscape. Those voices are music teachers.  

Franklin Willis, the CMA Foundation’s new Community Impact Director knows the impact of these investments firsthand. A former Metro Nashville Public School music teacher himself, Willis has been on both ends of this unique partnership between the CMA Foundation, the Country Music community and music teachers across the country.  

“As a past music educator and CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence recipient who has benefitted from the amazing opportunities provided through CMA and the CMA Foundation,” says Willis, “I can personally attest that it is amazing to see how the Country community continues to rally around music teachers and music education. Because of the resources and insights CMA offers to music teachers across the country, we are seeing the music education space being shaped and molded in new and innovative ways. I am forever grateful that this CMA community truly believes in the transformative power of teaching and learning through music.” 

Research shows that children communicate through artistic expression almost as soon as motor skills are developed, and quality music education positively impacts a student’s academic achievement and social development. Music education encourages different points of view and compels students to empathize with others. Often, the responsibility of this development for students falls into the hands of music teachers.  

Recognizing the importance of these teachers, the CMA Foundation established the Music Teachers of Excellence program in 2016 to celebrate them and to honor excellence in the field. The program was designed to shine a light on those who so often shine the light on others, highlighting teachers who go above and beyond in their classrooms and communities, often leveraging technology, teaching techniques and other resources to inspire students and share their best practices within the music education space.  

One of these voices is general music and Orff instructor Alicia Engram at Eagle View Elementary School in Antioch, TN. Establishing the first Orff Ensemble in Metro Nashville Public Schools during the 2018-2019 school year, Engram is a 12-year music educator, performer, songwriter and arranger. She is also a two-time CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence, having first received the honor in 2021. Engram reminisces with CMA Close Up on how it felt for her and her students to find out she was selected as a Music Teacher of Excellence again this year. 

“When we heard that I was a second-time honoree, they [my students] just screamed,” recalls Engram with a laugh. “That’s what inspires me to continue on in this work – what I see in my students and what I can do for them, to be a light while keeping that fire for music in them.” 

“My teacher, Ms. Engram, she is the best teacher,” says Noah, a fifth-grader in Engram’s Orff music ensemble. “She has taught me how to play the soprano xylophone, to hold my mallets correctly and to lead by example. I get to be myself in music class and most importantly, have fun.” 

While Engram’s students certainly credit her for stirring and encouraging their passion for music, Engram similarly cites the mentorship of her own music teachers growing up as the basis for her passion and dedication to music education.  

“I want to give [my students] what my music teachers growing up gave me,” says Engram, “belonging, freedom of expression, self-confidence and a love for music through singing, movement and playing. …My elementary teacher did that for me. She used music to teach everything, and that’s where I fell in love with music. Music helped increase my language learning skills and my social and emotional behavior, and it gave me a sense of confidence that I didn’t even know I had.” 

Music is a key component in a well-rounded education, playing an integral part in brain development, human connection and stress relief. It also acts as an invaluable tool to help improve academic achievement, increase student participation, classroom engagement and enhance social and emotional development.   

“We’ve all heard about the research behind the benefits of students participating in music, but I’ve seen firsthand how music and the arts can shape our young people,” says Willis. “I’ve seen students start the year shy, fearful and nervous and end the year as confident, forward thinking, and creative students eager to share their gifts with others. They grow into young artists and musicians who take on the ownership of making music and being a part of a community. Music gives students a place where they can feel safe. A place where they can be their true, authentic selves and that starts with their teachers.” 

This year, on Oct. 19, the CMA Foundation will set the stage once again to honor and celebrate 30 deserving music teachers at a ceremony in Nashville. In addition to the celebration, the CMA Foundation has also awarded a total of $5,000 to each recipient: $2,500 for each teacher’s music program to support their commitment to music education, and $2,500 to use as they wish.  

“I just look forward to being around other educators who share the same passion as I do in music,” Engram says “Being around people that love what I love and do what I do every single day for our students – teach music.” 

As members of the Country Music community, it’s likely that you’ve been directly impacted by the passion, care and encouragement of an incredible music teacher, or know a music teacher going the extra mile for their students. We want to celebrate these teachers! We ask that you encourage the exceptional teachers in your life to apply for next year’s class of Music Teachers of Excellence. The application opens October 17. To learn more about how to apply for the CMA Foundation’s Music Teacher of Excellence program, visit cmafoundation.org/music-teachers-of-excellence/. 

When asked what she would say to a fellow music teacher thinking about applying to become a Music Teacher of Excellence, Engram says, “Your voice and your students need to be heard. Your teaching needs to be heard, so do it!”