Moms Rock for Music Education With 8th Continent Soymilk

MISSION, KS--(Marketwire - Jun 20, 2011) - (Family Features) Music education in schools doesn't just benefit the musically-inclined students -- it helps all students perform better in other subjects. And even though this school year is over, parents remain concerned because music education programs in schools nationwide are continuing to fall victim to sweeping budget cuts and are being crowded out by an ever-growing list of federal and state mandates.

Studies have shown that:

• There are correlations between music training and reading, sequence learning, and the manipulation of information in both long-term and working memory. ("Learning, Arts and the Brain," The Dana Foundation, 2008)
• Music enhances the process of learning and nourishes students' integrated sensory, attention, cognitive, emotional and motor capacities -- factors that are shown to be the driving forces behind all other learning. (Konrad, R.R., "Empathy, Arts and Social Studies," 2000)
• Students of lower socioeconomic status who had music lessons in grades 8-12 increased their math scores significantly as compared to non-music students. But just as important, reading, history, geography and even social skills soared by 40 percent. (Gardiner, Fox, Jeffrey and Knowles, Nature, May 23, 1996)

Recognizing the value of music education for all students, Stremicks Heritage Foods, makers of 8^th Continent Soymilk, has announced the launch of an interactive campaign that helps advance in-school music lessons.

The "Nice Job, Mom: We Rock" program invites moms to www.8thContinent.com/werock to share, in 50 words or less, the tips and tricks that make them a rock star. This will place them in the running to win a truly rockin' experience with acclaimed singer and songwriter (and soy milk enthusiast) Sara Bareilles.

"We're excited to not only honor the wonderful mothers in the world with our 'Nice Job Mom, We Rock!' campaign, but go a step further to help make education a priority and cultivate self-expression with the children that make these families whole. As schools across the nation continue to face issues with budget cuts, we're proud to support our schools and promote the arts by awarding $50,000 to winners' schools for their music programs as part of the 8th Continent We Rock Contest," said Lou Stremick, owner, Stremicks Heritage Foods.

Entries will be accepted through July 3, 2011. Visitors to the site will vote on the entries they feel should win -- and in turn will receive downloadable coupons for 8^th Continent Soymilk. One winning mom will receive an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles for herself and a friend, where she'll experience the star treatment -- including a private meet and greet at Sara Bareilles' live concert performance. Four additional moms will be awarded a night out on the town for themselves and three of their friends when Sara's tour hits a city near them. In addition, 8^th Continent Soymilk will make a $10,000 donation in the name of each of the five winners to their local school music programs, which will be presented to each school in Fall 2011 by Sara, herself.

"I'm thrilled to be joining forces with 8th Continent Soymilk to take part in an incredible contest that celebrates the coolest kind of rock stars: Moms," said Bareilles. "I love being a part of something that acknowledges how amazing moms are, and this contest also distributes some incredible prizes to the winning school music programs. Music education is near and dear to my heart and I am honored to lend my support to keeping music alive in the schools, and in our communities. So... celebrating our moms, and putting music in the hands of our kids? It's a win-win!"

"Nice Job, Mom: We Rock" follows 8^th Continent's 2010 "Draw Your Own Sun" program, which promoted arts education in schools by awarding art supplies to winners' schools.

8th Continent Soymilk is made from U.S. grown soybeans that aren't genetically engineered.

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