Reverb Gives provides students, teachers, and leaders of music programs with the instruments that they need, directly from the Reverb marketplace. Since its launch, Reverb Gives has had the opportunity to help support a variety of remarkable organizations committed to making the world a more musical place.
By this time of September, most of us have shelved our sunscreen, beach toys, and bathing suits and have gotten strapped in for the last weeks of 2019. With kids having now started to settle into their new schools and classrooms, it's important to relay a little reminder about how integral it is that one of those classrooms be related to music.
Today, we're talking to two organizations in the Reverb Gives family—Music in Schools Today and Beyond the Grade—whose missions are grounded in the importance of keeping music education in school. Read below to learn more about these organizations, the benefit of kids' involvement in music, and how you can get involved.
What is MUST and its mission? What were the motivations behind the organization's creation?
The mission of Music in Schools Today (MUST) is to support and develop music education programs that increase student achievement. Our vision is a world where every child is curious and engaged in learning through the power of music.
Since 1983, we’ve supported and established many comprehensive music and arts programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. We work with professional Teaching Artists to develop curriculum and provide low-cost music and arts education to PreK-12 schools.
In our early education program, Music First!, children learn to express themselves through music and movement and develop literacy skills. Other arts integration programs are available upon request. Our arts enrichment residencies are developed and taught by trained Teaching Artists. These in-school and afterschool programs include music, band, dance, and visual arts classes.
Why do you believe that music is such an important part of a child's education?
We believe that music nurtures the human spirit, promotes personal development and is central to learning and the creative process. Music and the arts are as essential to a well-rounded education as literacy, math, and science. Music, both in and out of the classroom, promotes physical well-being and social understanding and helps build bridges within local and global communities.
Music Inspires Education from musicinspires on Vimeo.
Can you share any anecdotes about the students who have had success with participating in MUST?
Last spring, our Haitian Dance Teaching Artist had a student—the only boy in a class of girls—who seemed hesitant to stay. He looked uneasy as he started his first class, but as the Teaching Artist asked the students to warm up and shared the cultural meanings behind the dance, the student seemed to realize that in this space, he was safe to express himself and explore through music and dance.
“Joaquin is exceptional,” our Teaching Artist told us. “He loves to move, despite being the only male in class and regardless of the stigma attached to male dancers.” The music, his teacher’s encouragement, and the respect of his classmates all lifted Joaquin’s confidence. This confidence now follows him into his home and his other classes at school.
How can people support MUST?
The easiest way to support MUST is by making a monetary donation through our website. You can also donate an instrument at one of our three San Francisco Bay Area drop-off sites, which we will redistribute to a school or a child in need. Your used instrument can make a difference in the beginning or continuation of a school’s music program!
What is Beyond the Grade and its mission?
Beyond the Grade develops confidence and community in underserved youth in Central Texas through after school music education. Taught by local musicians, our curriculum is inspired by students’ interests, providing opportunities for expression and empowerment. In other words, we have talented Austin musicians that are looking to provide a safe, fun, and educational after-school environment, using music as our vehicle.
What were the motivations behind the organization's creation?
What motivated me to start this organization is that I found that the local musicians in Austin have an instinctive skill, which is providing a music education as well as being a role model to the at-risk youth in Austin. I felt that we could give the musicians an opportunity to give back to the community, as well as earn income to support their music careers.
At the same time, the youth in Austin have so much that they can learn about music and life from being around these professionals.
Why do you believe that music is such an important part of a child's education?
There are so many benefits that music can bring to a child. The most important benefit that I saw when I began this program is that of character-building. After students began to improve on their instruments and perform publicly, I saw their confidence and self-esteem improve, which quickly turned into more active participation and better grades in other school subjects.
Can you share an example of a student you saw benefit from participating in Beyond the Grade?
One of my favorite success stories is of one of our students with autism, who spent his school days as an outcast—a shy kid—getting bullied. A counselor suggested joining an after-school program, so he joined our Rock Band club. Because he started our program late in the year, he started with tambourine since the other kids already knew the instruments and the set list.
The student never missed a class and always participated. One day, the singer was absent, so he stepped up and filled in perfectly, having learned the lyrics and melody while he was playing tambourine. By the end of the school year, he’s accepted as a part of the group, and not only have we seen him shine at performances, but he was able to introduce the friends he had made through the club to his mom for the first time.
How can people get involved and offer their support?
There are many ways people can get involved. We're always looking for teachers and assistant teachers in the classroom, and we're looking for people that can volunteer to be board members to help us to continue to grow and connect with the community. We also need volunteers to help us at our events. We accept monetary and instrument donations, which you can learn more about on our website.
To learn more about Reverb Gives, including how the program works, what organizations the initiative has supported, or how to apply for a grant, visit the Reverb Gives website. Want to learn more about how we've helped individual groups? Check out our Reverb Gives interview series here.
