Highlight of Week Is Six In-School Safe Listening Concerts By Leading Children's Music Artists
(Rockville, MD - May 18, 2010) Because misuse of personal audio technology can lead to noise-induce hearing loss, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has a campaign, "Listen To Your Buds" that teaches children how to use the technology safely. Studies show kids are overusing these devices;behavior which can contribute to noise-induced hearing loss.
A new initiative of the campaign, "Buds In The Schools Week" is coming to the Washington, DC area May 23-29. The Washington, DC metropolitan area school systems of Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Washington, DC, Arlington County, and Alexandria City will be participating in Buds In The Schools Week.
Six in-school safe listening concerts by leading children's music artists will be held for area school children and the artists will entertain students while weaving in ASHA's safe-listening message. Both the District of Columbia and the Montgomery County Board of Education have officially designated May 23-29 "Buds In The Schools Week."
The schools, dates, and times of the concerts are:
Tuesday, May 25 at 10:00 a.m.
Sargent Shriver Elementary (Montgomery County)
12518 Greenly Street, Silver Spring, MD 20906
(301) 929-4426
Tuesday, May 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Patrick Henry Elementary (Arlington)
701 South Highland Street
Arlington, VA 22204-2449
(703) 228-5820
Wednesday, May 26 at 10:00 a.m.
Septima Clark Public Charter School (Washington, DC)
425 Chesapeake Street, SE
Washington, DC 20032
(202) 563-6556
Wednesday, May 26 at 1:00 p.m.
Barnard Elementary (Washington, DC)
430 Decatur Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011-4745
(202) 576-1100
Thursday, May 27 at 10:00 a.m.
Gaithersburg Elementary (Montgomery County)
35 North Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(301) 840-7136
Thursday, May 27 at 1:00 p.m.
Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy (Alexandria City)
530 South Saint Asaph Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 706-4430
Grammy and Parents' Choice Foundation Gold Award winners Cathy and Marcy will headline the morning concerts. A formidable powerhouse of sound, with a repertoire of traditional and contemporary folk, old-time country and swing music, this musical duo will delight students while teaching them the importance of safe listening habits.
Afternoon concerts will be performed by Parents' Choice Foundation Gold Award-winning recording artist Billy Jonas. Nationally acclaimed for his highly interactive "funky folk music for the whole family," Jonas will weave the main Buds campaign message of turning down the volume throughout his performance and interact with students in a fun, lively, and creative way.
Additional Buds-related activities such as daily morning announcements related to hearing protection, and presentations about hearing, noise, and how children can be proactive with regard to their hearing health will occur during the Week. Also, related lesson plans have already been disseminated throughout area school systems.
Sponsored by ASHA, Buds In The Schools Week will be held in collaboration with the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, at the National Institutes of Health, the Consumer Electronics Association, and Parents' Choice Foundation. The Music Teachers National Association became a sponsor of the Buds campaign this month.
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 140,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
