Page 21 - Priorities #52 2012-March/April

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M Music Matters by Ryan Young and Sean Mclain Brown, Director of Communications
Music programs in schools are a threatened species, but Ryan Young, Priory senior, is looking to help music make a difference in the lives of students in the Bay Area.
Ryan, for his senior project, recently partnered with Music in Schools Today (MUST), which provides musical instruments to youth in need. Ryan was inspired based on his recent experience teaching guitar at the Bridge summer program for underprivileged middle-school students. “Many of the students had never played a musical instrument and attended local schools that didn’t have enough money to fundmusicclassesorbuyinstruments,”saidRyan. “Iwas so inspired by the students’ enthusiasm and dedication that I wanted to enable more students the opportunity to learn to play music. Working with MUST to get instruments into the hands of these children will allow me to do that.”
Music in Schools Today has served public school grades K-12 in the Bay Area for more than 25 years by funding and facilitating music-in-education programs and distributing donated musical instruments to schools and community centers in need. “Learning to play an instrument has life- long attributes including strong self-esteem, discipline, creativity and focus,” said MUST’s Executive Director Meg Madden. “Additionally, these skills can enhance a child’s capacity to learn other academics like math and science, therefore making a positive influence in a child’s life.”
The March timing of the drive coincides with the na- tional “Music In Our Schools Month” designated by the Na- tional Association for Music Education. The primary goal of this month is to bring attention to the importance of mu- sic education in children’s lives, and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music.
“Lots of families have used musical instruments that their children have outgrown or simply no longer use, and they are just taking up space. Many would be hap- py to put these instruments to good use but don’t know where to donate them,”” added Ryan. “Now they can give another child the joy of music and themselves a tax- deduction. It’s a win-win”.
If you want to learn more about the Priory Bridge program, you can contact Gulliver LaValle, Site Director, glavalle@prioryca.org