6 Music Organizations to Support on Giving Tuesday

If you are looking for wonderful organizations to support on Giving Tuesday, here are 6 of my absolute favorites. All of them support music making and creation and I hope that you’ll consider lending your support today and in the future with a financial donation.

Music-COMP is my all-time favorite organization whose mission is to allow students (primarily in Grades 3-12) to help realize their musical creativity. Young composers are paired with a professional composer mentor as they create an original musical work. I have been a supporter of this organization since the very start and am so proud to now serve as the Treasurer and Board Member. The organization relies heavily on support and donations and I urge you to consider either a one-time donation or sustaining support. Here is a link to make that happen: DONATE

I have long been of fan of the amazing work that Music Will does (formerly Little Kids Rock) to bring popular music making opportunities to students around the country - most notably in communities where students might not have otherwise had access in their schools. Now in over 6,000 schools and serving over 1.5 million students, this organization has donated over 100,000 musical instruments and provided curriculum and support to help the modern band teachers and students thrive. This organization also relies heavily on donations from folks like you and me. Here is a link to help support their mission: DONATE

I have been working with Save The Music since the late 1990’s, having written the Keyboard Lab curriculum and training hundreds of teachers in urban school districts across the United States. The mission of Save The Music is to help students, schools, and communities reach their full potential through the power of making music. They do this by donating musical instruments and music technology to schools, as well as offer ongoing support for their teachers and advocacy work to help ensure that music education is available to every child in America. I love Save The Music and am very proud of the work that I hav done with them over the years. Here is a link to help support their mission: DONATE

Through my work with both SoundTree and now MusicFirst, I have had the privilege of working with a wonderful organization called Education Through Music that helps fund and implement music education in urban school districts. Their mission is to positively impact student motivation, achievement, and self-confidence by partnering with under-resourced schools to integrate music education into the core curriculum. Their model, which is now in multiple cities around the country, employs a full-time music educator at a school that do not have had one due to insufficient resources. These are the neediest schools and students and I love seeing this model in action. Many ETM music teachers eventually become full-time music educators at the school. Here is a link to help support their mission: DONATE

TeachRock is a terrific organization that also helps infuse popular music into the music curriculum. The organization was launched by the one and only Stevie Van Zandt from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band fame (as well as The Sopranos). Teachrock.org provides free lesson plans and resources to help teachers and students learn more about music, history and society. TeachRock is used by more than 60,000 teachers in over 30,000 schools. In order to keep these curricular resources free, they also rely heavily on donations. Here is a link to help support their mission: DONATE

The Bloomfield Youth Band under the direction of Patrick J. Burns

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t put out a plug for one of my favorite musical organizations, the Bloomfield Youth Band under the direction of my lifelong friend and fellow music educator, Patrick J. Burns. I had the pleasure of performing with this group when it first started back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, and have even had the pleasure of guest conducting some rehearsals with them over the years. Pat holds this group of dedicated young musicians to the highest standards and their concerts are always extremely well received. They need some help raising funds for this season, and I urge you to consider donating even a little to help keep them going. Please consider DONATING today.