The Country Music Association Partners with Discovery Education to Launch Impactful New STEAM Program for Students And Educators “Working in Harmony: Every Voice is Instrumental” Creates a Future Pipeline for Youth to Explore Careers Within Country Music Watch the Program’s First Three Video Topic Series HERE This press release was originally distributed by CMA. You can find the original version here. Nashville, TN and Charlotte, NC—The Country Music Association—the premier membership trade association of the Country Music industry—and Discovery Education—the worldwide EdTech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place—have announced a new partnership designed to empower students to explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) careers within the Country Music industry. The program, Working in Harmony: Every Voice is Instrumental, is an educational initiative targeting students and educators in grades 3-12, providing a suite of no-cost digital resources for students to learn about the many career opportunities offered within the Country Music industry. CMA is the first-ever music organization to partner with Discovery Education. The multi-year partnership includes standards-aligned resources designed for wherever learning takes place and shows students how Country Music is driven by bold ideas and a wide variety of unique STEAM careers and diverse professionals. The content inspires students to become collaborative and forward-thinking leaders by exploring career profiles utilizing STEAM skills, as well as classroom activities, instructional supports, family activities, and an upcoming virtual field trip. Working in Harmony is available to students and educators nationwide. The first content offering within Working in Harmony is a three-part video topic series titled “This is STEAM Country!” that explores a key component of Country Music—live performances and festivals. Accessible from Discovery Education’s award-winning K-12 learning platform and CMAWorkinginHarmony.com, “This Is STEAM Country!” features Country Music professionals Aaron Farmer (Music Director, Florida Georgia Line), Alec Takahashi (Creative Director/Lighting Designer, Thomas Rhett) and Lindsay Bertelli (Owner/President, Reach LLC) as each demonstrates their technological and innovative skills to help bring CMA Fest to life. Each video will be paired with standards-aligned curriculum to reinforce the concepts within each grade band. Following today’s initial launch, Discovery Education will premiere a virtual field trip to be captured during “The 56th Annual CMA Awards” in November, giving students an exclusive behind-the-scenes view of Country Music’s Biggest Night™. The CMA Awards virtual field trip content and curriculum will launch early next year within the Discovery Education K-12 learning platform with additional content being produced throughout the partnership. “Through our partnership with Discovery Education, we are thrilled to deliver these resources directly to students and educators that highlight how our industry professionals embrace powerful STEAM skills to bring Country Music to fans around the world,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “As a trade organization representing the Country Music industry, our role has always been to provide support while also guiding the business through challenges. Our industry has seen firsthand the significant amount of labor loss as a result of the pandemic, as well as the critical need to provide a diverse pipeline of individuals to all areas of the business. This partnership will allow students around the country to learn about the many career opportunities our industry has to offer, and we hope they’ll even become a fan of Country Music in the process!” “The CMA Foundation has been a leader in music education for more than a decade, and we heavily leaned on this expertise to help develop this meaningful partnership with Discovery Education,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “We constantly hear from our teaching partners the need for content not just to show students how to make music, but also how they can use music after they graduate. Discovery Education creates world-class content and they do it with an audience that we are deeply engaged with. If children can see it, they can aspire to be it. I am so proud that we are creating opportunities for students everywhere to enter our business.” “Harmonious collaboration is the key to any successful venture, and we are proud to partner with the Country Music Association and the CMA Foundation to provide the resources needed by educators and students to explore and pursue careers utilizing STEAM skills,” says Amy Nakamoto, Discovery Education General Manager of Social Impact. Working in Harmony builds upon CMA and the CMA Foundation’s extensive work in education. As the philanthropic arm of CMA, the CMA Foundation works tirelessly to provide equitable access to music education for students K-12 through intentional investments and partnerships. In addition, the CMA EDU Leadership Program is the organization’s collegiate career development program supporting the next generation of music industry leaders at the beginning of their careers through mentorships and access to exciting, real-world music industry opportunities. Learn more about Working in Harmony at CMAWorkinginHarmony.com or within Discovery Education’s K-12 learning platform. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education provides educators an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction. For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning services, visit DiscoveryEducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn. ### About the Country Music Association Founded in 1958, CMA is the premier trade association of the Country Music industry. Representing professionals making a living in Country Music globally, the organization serves as a critical resource of support and information, honors excellence in the genre and provides a forum for industry leadership. CMA is dedicated to expanding Country Music around the world through a number of core programs and initiatives including the organization’s three annual television properties—the CMA Awards, “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas,” all of which air on ABC. The organization’s philanthropic arm, the CMA Foundation, works tirelessly to provide equitable access to music education in order to create impactful change for students and teachers across the United States. About the CMA Foundation The Country Music Association established the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), in 2011 to leverage strategic partnerships, professional development for qualified music teachers, and grant distribution to improve and withstand equitable music education programs for all students nationwide. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, the CMA Foundation focuses on providing sustainability, advocacy, and accountability within music education by investing in various resources for students, schools, and communities. About Discovery Education Discovery Education is the worldwide EdTech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading EdTech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com. Press Contacts: Catharine McNelly, CMA Senior Director, Communications cmcnelly@cmaworld.com Grace Maliska, Discovery Education Senior Manager, Global Communications gmaliska@discoveryed.com