What a year — and what a response from music educators across the country!

Thousands of teachers cast their votes in the 2025 SBO Teacher’s Choice Awards, making their voices heard and celebrating the tools, resources, and companies that make music education possible every single day.

We’re thrilled to share that Hal Leonard and the Essential Elements product family earned top honors in multiple categories, recognition made even more meaningful because these awards are chosen entirely by music educators themselves. Muse Group's Audacity and MuseScore Studio also picked up awards in the free tool categories.

Essential Elements: A Standout Across Music Education

For decades, Essential Elements has helped young musicians build strong foundations, develop confidence, and discover the joy of performing. This year, educators once again affirmed the series’ impact, awarding Essential Elements top placement in three method categories:

• Best General Music Method — Essential Elements Music Class
• Best Choral Method — Essential Elements for Choir
• Best String Method — Essential Elements for Strings

These awards underscore what educators have said for years: Essential Elements remains one of the most comprehensive, flexible, and effective music education systems ever created.

Further Awards for the Muse Group family

Hal Leonard titles and digital tools by Muse Group also picked up awards, including:

• Marching Band Music Publisher of the Year — Hal Leonard
• Best Notation Software for Educators — MuseScore Studio
• Best Audio Recording Interface — Audacity

A Heartfelt Thanks to Music Educators

We're so honored to receive these honors from the teachers who inspire students, champion the arts, and bring music into communities everywhere. Your votes reflect the products you trust, the materials that work in real classrooms, and the resources that help your students thrive.

We’re honored to celebrate this recognition with you, and we remain committed to supporting educators with the very best music, methods, and teaching tools.

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