Hungry for Music Notes | Early Fall 2017
Hungry for Music is an organization that supports music education and cultural enrichment by acquiring and distributing quality musical instruments to underserved children with willing instructors and a hunger to play.
Big Bertha discovered evidence in 47 states that music does heal
Big Bertha discovered evidence in 47 states that music does heal
Notes from the Road

Well, I did it. It was a grueling schedule at times, but very much worth the effort to expand Hungry for Music’s outreach. Music seeds were planted in more than 100 cities in 47 states (we skipped North Dakota to stay on schedule ��). Myself and Big Bertha rolled across the country collecting and distributing instruments, as well as connecting and finding kindred partners that share our passion for promoting and supporting music education.


The trip could not have been successfully completed without a team of support that was led by the Spirit of Harmony Foundation. Todd Rundgren’s organization was, um, instrumental in collecting over 150 music instruments, as his fans organized instrument drives in 23 cities around the country. Through a team effort that included Spirit of Harmony, music organizations, and our supporters/volunteers around the country, we collected over 400 instruments. A majority have already been repaired and distributed to programs and individuals.

Too many special moments to list them all here, but the children’s book story (it’s been written, and illustrations will begin soon!), the synchronistic violin donation at the Hendrix Music Academy, the serendipitous meeting at the Crossroads in Mississippi, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performances of several groups that we have supported over the years, the love Todd fans showed around the country, the enormous stringed instrument donation by Violin Shop in Illinois, and the grand finale in Louisville all stand out. Hopefully soon I will finish the travel log from the last 15 cities on the tour. Since the tour ended, it’s been nonstop shuffling and shipping instruments, as we have been in the midst of the beginning of the school year rush. Our outreach continues to grow because of the help and support of others. I am so grateful.

Jeff Campbell,
founder and director

Recent Instrument Donations

The band plays on at PS 76
Bennington School in the Bronx

Things haven’t slowed down for Hungry for Music since the conclusion of the Magic Music Bus Tour I. We have been busy shipping instruments with the help of Imperial Guitars in New Paltz, N.Y. , a new brass and woodwind repairman in Cumberland, Md., and volunteer Sam Tyler.

Fall is always a busy time for us with shipping and delivering instruments to schools, allowing children who otherwise would not have had the opportunity the means to participate. We also have made several international donations recently, and continue to support the innovative after-school music programs that we have pledged our ongoing support.

  • Internal Creations NYC
  • Junior Appalachian Musicians Appalachia
  • Rock to the Future Philadelphia
  • St. Luke’s Youth Orchestra NYC
  • Imagine Music Academy for Autism Brooklyn
  • Duval MS Griffithsville, WV
  • Conservatory Lab School Dorchester, MA
  • Rosenwald Middle School Society Hill, SC
  • Academy of Promise Bronx
  • Project Prelude Portland, OR
  • Century CUSD #100 Ullin, IL
  • Music with Kel Conway, SC
  • Campus International School Cleveland
  • Owen Intermediate Ypsilanti, MI
  • Bethany Lutheran School Naperville, IL
  • Building a Bridge to Uganda Project South Africa
  • Gabrielino High School San Gabriel, CA
  • Living Stones Music Project South Bend, IN
  • Make Music NOLA New Orleans
  • Coahoma Youth Outreach Clarksdale, MS
  • Hollinger K-8 School Tucson, AZ
  • Individual Boise, ID
  • Innoko River School Shageluk, AK
  • Ozark Mountain Music Outreach Project Haiti
  • Kirkpatrick Middle School Ft. Worth, TX
  • Individual Las Vegas, NV
  • Wertheimer Middle School Richmond, TX
  • Renzi Education Center Shreveport, LA
  • and counting …
Magic Music Bus Tour I Concludes in Louisville

River City Drum Corps
kicks off benefit in Louisville

The Magic Music Bus Tour began on March 21 in Shreveport, Louisiana, and ended on July 27, with a special event at Tim Faulkner Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky. A citywide instrument drive in partnership with Louisville Public Media’s Instrumental Partners Program was held that benefited several local programs that included River City Drum Corp, Academy of Music Production, Education and Development (AMPED) and Instrumental Partners. The drive concluded with a tribute concert to the Staple Singers with some of Louisville’s best talent. A music program that Hungry for Music has supported for several years, the River City Drum Corp started the event with a rousing set. Other performers included Sheryl Rouse, Blues and Greys, Jacqui Blue, Tyrone Cotton and Karter Louis. Thank you to Kay Coyte (and the awesome team she put together) for their dedicated efforts to organize this successful and joyful end of the tour celebration.

We are so grateful for the support we received as Big Bertha made her way through this big and beautiful country in which we live.

We plan to plant more music seeds across the country with the Magic Music Bus Tour II beginning next March. Stay tuned!

Please help us continue to expand our mission.
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Peachtree House Foundation Grant

We are excited to announce that Hungry for Music was recently awarded a grant from the Peachtree House Foundation in Midlothian, VA. This is an especially timely gift as our request for instruments have doubled from last year and the costs of repairs, shipping and delivering predictably increase. We are honored to receive this grant, knowing that we received it because of our grassroots outreach that has reached over 10,000 children in 48 states and 25 countries in our 24-year history.

Eagle Scout Patrick Breen surrounded by the efforts of his service project

Kids Helping Kids

Two teenagers are benefiting Hungry for Music with their Eagle Scout Service Projects. Patrick Breen, of Hilsdale, N.J., recently concluded his service project and collected 35 music instruments to support our instrument donation program.

Jackson Ledbetter in Northern Virginia will conclude his 5 month music instrument drive with a benefit concert on Friday, November 17th from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at the Contemporary Music Center, located at 4410 Costello Way, Haymarket, VA 20169. If you would like to support Jackson's efforts, you are invited to bring instrument donations to the concert or email him at jaxmaster03@yahoo.com. Jackson’s local newspaper covered his project in a recent story. The link is here.

The drums were a
big “hit” at the Summer Hoot
instrument petting zoo!
This future
musician couldn’t
stay
away from the saxophone.


The Summer Hoot


We had a great time hosting the Music Instrument Petting Zoo at the Summer Hoot again this year. We moved to the gazebo on the grounds of the beautiful Ashokan Center this year and it was a big hit! Big Bertha enjoyed the relaxing weekend surrounded by nature and good people in New York’s Hudson Valley area. Thank you to the organizers, Mike and Ruthy, their wonderful team of volunteers, and everyone at Ashokan Center.

Big Bertha at Music
Education Benefit

Big Bertha was in Cleveland on August 20 to help kick off the Quaker Steak and Lube Bangin’ Drums 4 Music Education promotion before the YESitval concert, with Todd Rundgren and his Spirit of Harmony Foundation. We were honored to attend the event that included a performance by the Campus International School in Cleveland, where Hungry for Music has donated nearly 100 instruments the last two years. Quaker Steak and Lube donated 50 cents for each order of chicken drums sold at its stores until the end of September. Thank you to the Spirit of Harmony gang for inviting us.
Fuel for the Mission

We recently received this on our Facebook page...

“In 2013, I contacted Hungry for Music, and that has made a mark on my daughter’s life to which none other would equal. I was told by my daughter’s middle school Orchestra teacher that she would be a better cellist if she practiced at home every night. She loved to play so much and it broke my heart we did not have a cello at home allowing her to practice and improve playing. At performances, all the other children would bring their own instruments to play and we always had to borrow one from the school. I desperately wanted her to have the ability to experience the connection a performer has to their instrument. I began to search online for a cello and Hungry for Music. They emailed me a few questions to answer and requested our address. The next thing I knew we received a huge package. I can still remember her trying to get the package inside asking a ton of questions. I kept saying I didn't know what it was but I knew. :) I told her..."it's yours open it." I cannot tell you how beautiful this instrument was enclosed in a black hard case lined with red velvet. The cello is a Meisel and is no longer made. The sound is so rich and beautiful! In high school all of her friends commented about how her cello sounded so much better than theirs! Because Hungry for Music, my daughter was able to advance above the level of other students. In her 11th grade year of high school, she was 1st chair every single concert. She intends to continue to pursue Orchestra in college and will play for the rest of her life. I will forever be grateful for Hungry for Music’s gift. You changed her life by fuming a passion to play her cello...a passion that will never die.”

~ T. J. Crane, mom of young cellist

Mini Magic Music Bus Tour in Fall

Big Bertha will be making a swing through several midwest states this fall promoting music education, our outreach, and collecting music instruments for local school and after-school music programs. Stops include Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Kent (Ohio), South Bend (Indiana), and Chicago. The mini tour will end with a special event on December 13 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. More details to be announced.

Please check our website Events Page for updates.

Our Mission in Action

“Attached is a photo where ALL of the kids are using Hungry for Music instruments! We also have some students on your violins, but they aren’t enrolled in our summer program. Thanks so much for our continued support of our program.”

~Eun Lee, Manager of Youth Programs, Orchestra at St. Luke’s, El Sistema music program in New York City.
Violins to Haiti



Our partners at Ozark Mountain Music recently took a music outreach trip to Haiti. They asked us for a couple of violins to share with a music school they were visiting. It looks like the violins found a good home! We appreciate Bob McGill for sharing some of his magical trip with us.

Since becoming a non-profit 23 years ago, Hungry for Music has brought the healing quality of music to more than 10,000 children in 48 states and 20 countries through its musical instrument donation program. We appreciate everyone who has helped us along the way and could not fulfill our mission without the generosity of others.

If you are able, please donate funds, buy a t-shirt from our online store, or visit our website to find out about other ways you can support Hungry for Music.
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