Save The Music Foundation

SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION MISSION IS TO HELP STUDENTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH THE POWER OF MAKING MUSIC.

SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION ("FOUNDATION") IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CREATING SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BY RESTORING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAMS AND BY RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC EDUCATION. THE FOUNDATION WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITY IN AVAILABILITY OF MUSIC EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS IN MANY OF THE UNITED STATES' MOST CHALLENGED COMMUNITIES. SINCE ITS CREATION, SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION, WORKING WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HAS RESTORED MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN MORE THAN 2,290 PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 286 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, IMPACTING THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS. DURING THAT TIME, THE FOUNDATION HAS DONATED OVER $63 MILLION WORTH OF NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.THE FOUNDATION VALUES MUSIC AS A CRITICAL LEARNING TOOL THAT KEEPS STUDENTS ENGAGED IN SCHOOL, HELPS DEVELOP WELL-ROUNDED INDIVIDUALS, AND ENCOURAGES SKILLS THAT ARE VITAL FOR SUCCESS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. PROGRAM AND POLICY STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE FOUNDATION WORK CLOSELY WITH SUPERINTENDENTS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, PRINCIPALS, ARTS COORDINATORS, AND MUSIC EDUCATORS IN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO IDENTIFY SCHOOLS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE. THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH LOCAL POLICYMAKERS AND ADVOCATES TO HELP ENSURE SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOUNDATION'S RESTORATION OF MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS TAKE THE STEPS NEEDED TO BECOME ELIGIBLE. THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO ENABLE EVERY SCHOOL WITHIN THE DISTRICT TO HAVE ACCESS TO MUSIC EDUCATION. THE FOUNDATION EXPANDS ITS REACH IN SERVING ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE.THE FOUNDATION HAS DEVELOPED A UNIQUE MODEL TO FOSTER EQUITABLE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN. THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES BRAND-NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, METHOD BOOKS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PUBLIC ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS, JUMP-STARTING DORMANT MUSIC PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT MUSIC PROGRAMS REMAIN A CORE PART OF THE CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THAT THE PROGRAMS LIVE ON IN PERPETUITY, THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH SCHOOLS THAT HAVE AGREED TO IMPLEMENT A SEQUENTIAL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM BASED ON LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MUSIC EDUCATION. GRANT OFFERINGS AND SCHOOLS SERVED:THE FOUNDATION OFFERS FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRANT PACKAGES TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS BASED ON GRADE LEVEL, NEED, AND THE SCHOOL'S MUSIC PROGRAM GOALS. THE GRANT PACKAGES ARE DECIDED UPON WITH THE INPUT OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL LEADERS, AND THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAM AND POLICY STAFF. A SCHOOL MUST MAKE THE COMMITMENT TO CONDUCT THEIR INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM AS PART OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY, PROVIDE A DESIGNATED SPACE FOR MUSIC INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUMENT STORAGE, AND COMMIT TO HIRING A FULL-TIME, CERTIFIED MUSIC EDUCATOR. BY GUARANTEEING THAT EACH GRANT RECIPIENT SCHOOL FULFILLS THE SCHEDULE, SPACE, AND STAFF REQUIREMENTS, THE FOUNDATION FOSTERS A SUSTAINABLE MUSIC PROGRAM. IN THE 2021 FISCAL YEAR, THE FOUNDATION DELIVERED GRANT PACKAGES (CORE, INTRO TO MUSIC, J DILLA MUSIC TECH, J DILLA JR. MUSIC TECH, SAVE THE MUSIC + SONGFARM MUSIC TECH, AND KEYS + KIDS) TO 97 SCHOOLS, TOTALING OVER 15,500 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND PIECES OF MUSICAL EQUIPMENT, IN 36 SCHOOL DISTRICTS (LISTED BELOW) ACROSS 16 STATES. THESE GRANTS IMPACTED OVER 51,000 STUDENTS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS BY INCREASING THEIR ACCESS TO QUALITY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKS, EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND RESOURCES. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EACH GRANT PACKAGE TO FOLLOW.SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT RECEIVED GRANT PACKAGES IN FISCAL YEAR 2021: ANAHEIM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, CALIFORNIAATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, GEORGIAAVONDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, ARIZONABALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MARYLANDBARBOUR COUNTY SCHOOLS, WEST VIRGINIACLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, OHIOCOLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MINNESOTADAYTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OHIOELIZABETH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NEW JERSEYFLINT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, MICHIGANHOLLY SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT, MISSISSIPPIHOLMES COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT, MISSISSIPPIJERSEY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NEW JERSEYKANAWHA COUNTY SCHOOLS, WEST VIRGINIALELAND SCHOOL DISTRICT, MISSISSIPPILOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TENNESSEEMIAMI-DADE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, FLORIDAMISSISSIPPI ACHIEVEMENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, MISSISSIPPIMORTON SCHOOL DISTRICT, WASHINGTONNEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION, NEW JERSEYNEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, NEW YORKNICHOLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS, WEST VIRGINIAORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, LOUISIANAPAJARO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, CALIFORNIAPASSAIC PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NEW JERSEYPATERSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NEW JERSEYPRESTON COUNTY SCHOOLS, WEST VIRGINIAPUTNAM COUNTY SCHOOLS, WEST VIRGINIASAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, CALIFORNIASAN MARCOS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, CALIFORNIAWAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NORTH CAROLINAWAYNE COUNTY SCHOOLS, WEST VIRGINIAWETZEL COUNTY SCHOOLS, WEST VIRGINIAWOOD COUNTY SCHOOLS, WEST VIRGINIAWYOMING COUNTY SCHOOLS, WEST VIRGINIACORE GRANT:THE CORE GRANT IN THE FORM OF BAND, STRING OR MARIACHI HAS BEEN THE CORNERSTONE GRANT THAT THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES TO SCHOOL GRANT RECIPIENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. EACH CORE GRANT IS VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $62,000 AND JUMP-STARTS A NEW INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM AT A SCHOOL. THE CORE BAND GRANT INCLUDES 36 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS - WOODWIND, BRASS, AND PERCUSSION. THE STRING GRANT INCLUDES UP TO 36 STRING INSTRUMENTS - VIOLINS, VIOLAS, CELLOS, AND BASSES. THE MARIACHI GRANT INCLUDES 52 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS BRASS AND STRING INSTRUMENTS. ALL CORE GRANTS INCLUDE MUSIC STANDS, INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD BOOKS, AT LEAST ONE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSION, AND FOUNDATION PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR 10 YEARS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, THE FOUNDATION DELIVERED 35 CORE BAND GRANT PACKAGES AND FOUR CORE MARIACHI GRANT PACKAGES, IMPACTING OVER 18,500 STUDENTS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS.INTRO TO MUSIC GRANT:THE INTRO TO MUSIC GRANT WAS DEVELOPED IN 2018 AND INCLUDES EVERYTHING A MUSIC TEACHER NEEDS TO PROVIDE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS PREKINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 5 WITH SEQUENTIAL, STANDARDS-BASED GENERAL MUSIC INSTRUCTION, FOCUSED ON ACTIVE MUSIC-MAKING AND ENGAGEMENT. THE GRANT IS VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $25,000, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT INSTRUMENTS AND RESOURCES: DIGITAL PIANO, ACOUSTIC GUITAR, ORFF INSTRUMENTS, WORLD DRUMS, RECORDERS, HAND-HELD PERCUSSION, BOOMWHACKERS, A CLASSROOM SET OF UKULELES, INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD BOOKS, AND FOUNDATION PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR 10 YEARS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, THE FOUNDATION DELIVERED 44 INTRO TO MUSIC GRANT PACKAGES, IMPACTING OVER 19,000 STUDENTS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS.J DILLA MUSIC TECH GRANT:THE J DILLA MUSIC TECH GRANT WAS DEVELOPED IN 2018 AND FOCUSES ON DELIVERING THE FUTURE OF MUSIC LEARNING THROUGH INNOVATIVE MUSIC TECH TOOLS AND CURRICULUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. OUR GOAL IS TO BRING OUT STUDENTS' INNER CREATIVITY, TALENT, AND CONFIDENCE BY TEACHING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC CREATION, RECORDING, AND PRODUCTION. IN 2019, THE MUSIC TECH GRANT WAS NAMED AFTER THE LATE, INFLUENTIAL INDUSTRY RAPPER AND HIP-HOP RECORD PRODUCER J DILLA. THE GRANT IS VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $73,000, WHICH INCLUDES HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TO SUPPORT INSTRUCTION IN AUDIO RECORDING, AUDIO ENGINEERING, DJ-ING, BEAT-MAKING, ALONG WITH IN-DEPTH TRAINING FOR MUSIC TEACHERS, INCLUDING A ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP WITH AN ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION, AND FOUNDATION PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR 10 YEARS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, THE FOUNDATION DELIVERED EIGHT J DILLA MUSIC TECH GRANT PACKAGES, IMPACTING OVER 8,800 STUDENTS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS. J DILLA JR. MUSIC TECH GRANT:IN ADDITION TO THE J DILLA MUSIC TECH GRANT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THE FOUNDATION HAS CREATED A MUSIC TECHNOLOGY GRANT PACKAGE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, GRADES 4 THROUGH 8, WITH SIMILAR GOALS. THE J DILLA JR. MUSIC TECH GRANT IS VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $28,000 AND INCLUDES MUSIC CREATION SOFTWARE, TECHNOLOGY, AND EQUIPMENT, ALONG WITH A ONE-ONE-ONE MENTORSHIP WITH AN ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION, AND FOUNDATION PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR 10 YEARS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, THE FOUNDATION DELIVERED THREE J DILLA JR. MUSIC TECH GRANTS, IMPACTING NEARLY 1,000 STUDENTS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS. SAVE THE MUSIC + SONGFARM MUSIC TECH GRANT:IN 2020, THE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED A PARTNERSHIP WITH SONGFARM, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING TO BUILD RECORDING STUDIOS IN UNDERSERVED HIGH SCHOOLS, SO KIDS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES. THE SONGFARM MUSIC TECH GRANT PACKAGE IS SIMILAR TO THE J DILLA MUSIC TECH GRANT WITH THE SAME MISSION.