Hungry for Music Notes
Summer 2018
Notes from Off the Road

After the recent music instrument drive event in Pittsburgh with Ace Hotel and the D’Addario Foundation, Big Bertha was loaded up with over a hundred instruments and struggling through the rolling mountains in Western Maryland.  She finally had enough, and I had her towed 100 miles to a mechanic in Strasburg, VA that has been working on her recently.  She was heading there anyway to have her springs replaced, worn from too many potholes hit on horrible U.S. roads.  Luckily, a place near Bayce, VA where Hungry for Music has been warehousing music instruments was available for me to stay and it is only about 45 minutes from where Big Bertha is being repaired.

The house is in an isolated location in the woods.  No TV, poor cell reception, but a jukebox loaded with Motown, Funk, and R&B.  Also, plenty of peace and quiet.  It really feels good to be off the road and able to catch up on everything I’ve been falling behind on, especially emails.  When I arrived, I  had over 400 emails that needed replies.  As I write this my email inbox is down to 28.  I’m not sure I will ever “catch up”, but it’s important for me to find a balance so I don’t burn myself out again.  So, I am using this quiet time in the woods to not only catch up, but to reflect on Hungry for Music’s accomplishments, and plan for a positive and productive future.

I am excited about our increased outreach and new partnerships that have been formed and solidified to continue our growth.  I’m encouraged by the recent influx of volunteers that have reached out to help and by the enthusiasm and dedication of the current Hungry for Music team.  Hungry for Music couldn’t do what we do without their support, plus the individuals and groups who are creating a continuous flow of music instruments for us to distribute.  With music, the future is bright.  Hope you have a music-filled 4th!

Jeff Campbell
Hungry for Music

Campus International Youth String Orchestra from Cleveland
Young violinist from 
Hendrix Rock Academy
Hendrix Youth Academy from Seattle
Salvation Army Youth Brass Orchestra
Joziah keeping the beat
for Hendrix Music Academy
Rock to the Future from
Philadelphia were stellar
Jeff Campbell presenting
Campus International student
with her very own violin
Campus International 
Youth String Orchestra
Rock to the Future All-Star Band playing Hall of Fame for third year

Hungry for Music supported programs
Rock & Roll in Cleveland

For the third consecutive year, Hungry for Music presented music programs that we support at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame summer stage.   This year, we showcased five bands, including two from the Cleveland area, Campus International School and the Salvation Army Youth Orchestra.   Another Ohio-based youth group, Franklinton Preparatory Academy Steel band, from Columbus played a spectacularly interesting rock set.   The Hendrix Rock Academy traveled all the way from Seattle, WA to play a stellar set.  Finally, the awesome Rock to the Future All-Star Band performed for the third consecutive year.   We greatly appreciate the bands making the effort to get to Cleveland, especially the Hendrix Rock Academy, who traveled all the way from Seattle!

While in Cleveland, Hungry for Music donated over three dozen instruments (brass, woodwinds, and strings) to Campus International and several area Boys and Girls Club, in partnership with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  In three years, we have distributed over 200 instruments to seven music programs in the Cleveland community.

Thank you to Greg Harris, Kathryn Clusman, and everyone at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for making it a great success.

Retired Long Island Math Teacher Takes Time to Help

Rob Gerver spreading the good news at the Mitzvah Market in New York.

Rob Gerver taught math for almost 40 years at North Shore High School on Long Island.  Now that he is retired, Rob spends his time playing drums with a cover band he started in the late ‘70’s called “Just Sixties” and donating time to Hungry for Music.  Rob organizes instruments drives on Long Island in conjunction with his band’s gigs and he also collects donations from individual donors.  About once a month, Jeff or a HFM volunteer will meet Rob to pick up his collections.  Rob has collected over 100 instruments on Long Island since he began volunteering in 2015.  It’s folks like Rob who help keep the music alive for these kids by supporting Hungry for Music’s outreach.  Thank you, Rob!  We appreciate you.

Reverb Grants Bucks to Purchase Instruments

We are excited and honored to be chosen by Reverb to receive one of their first grants.  The grant consists of 2,500 Reverb bucks that we can use to purchase music instruments and gear at  https://reverb.com.  Reverb has also  given Hungry for Music a platform to sell antique, collectible, and oddball music instruments that’s received that we can turn into purchasing new instruments and equipment.  In our history, we have always sold, raffled, or auctioned instruments to purchase new instruments and to help cover operating costs that relates to shipping and receiving instruments.  Selling on Reverb will allow us to turn the funds raised into new instruments.  Some music instruments that we do not have in our inventory can be purchased with the funds raised from the listings.

We will have listings up soon!

Thank you, Reverb!

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Upcoming Events

D’Addario Foundation/Hungry for Music
Music Instrument Drive Event
July 29
Ace Hotel
Los Angeles
Time TBA

"Just Sixties" 
Hungry for Music Drop-off Concert

The USA’s Longest Running Sixties Tribute

Thursday August 2 at 7:00 pm
Smithtown Library Main Branch
Route 25 and Route 111
Smithtown, NY 11787

Summer Hoot 
Aug 24-26, 2018

A 3-day music festival at The Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY (20 min from Woodstock.) A down-home, multi-generational celebration of live roots music, local food & crafts, and the joyful spirit of this amazing community where the Catskills meet the Hudson River Valley.

Please help us continue to expand our mission.

We want to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Commonwealth Roofing and Siding in Chantilly, VA for allowing us to use their warehouse to process some of the music instruments we collect in the Northeast .

For over six years,  thousands of instruments have flowed through this location thanks to the generosity of owners Mike & Genny Fontaine.  Their support has helped us grow!  We now need to find a larger space.

Currently, we have three storage units and a house where instruments are stored before distribution.  Growing pains.  Nice problem to have.

The Team for the Instrument
Drive Event at Ace Hotel
The Boilermaker Jazz Band
getting the crowd swinging
Part of the almost
100 instruments collected
Of course we received accordions.
It’s Pittsburgh! :)
Suzanne D’Addario accepts
instruments from donor family
Trumpeting the cause
 Welcome! The Pittsburgh
Ace Hotel was a former YMCA
Dancing the night away

Another successful Ace Hotel/D’Addario Foundation Instrument Drive

We collected almost 100 music instruments at the most recent instrument drive in partnership with Ace Hotels & D’Addario Foundation.  The location of this event was in the great town of Pittsburgh!  Donors flowed in during the afternoon bringing a variety of instruments, not surprisingly including several accordions.  We were in the polka music mecca of the universe! 

Thank you to Suzanne D’Addario and Danielle Hall at D’Addario Foundation, the staff at Pittsburgh Ace Hotel, and The Boilermaker Jazz Band for providing the swinging music for the evening.   Also, a big thanks to the dancers who helped load up Big Bertha with all those instruments!  It would have taken us much longer to do it ourselves. :)

We have  three more instrument drive events scheduled this year in  partnership with D’Addario Foundation at Ace Hotels in Chicago (also with Spirit of Harmony Foundation), Los Angeles, and New Orleans.

Kids Helping Kids

Concerts for the Cause

The Hammond Jazz Combo was formed at Hammond High School with the mission of sharing jazz throughout the Howard County Maryland community. The ensemble performs at both Hammond and private events, such as graduation and the 2017 Congressional CEF Gala in Union Station. Currently, they are performing to raise money for Hungry for Music.  The combo has already raised $1,000, with a goal of $2000 by the end of the summer.  As a private, entirely student-led subset of the Hammond Jazz Band, the combo focuses on the sound of the 50s and 60s, emphasizing small group playing and individual improvisation. Its members include Josh Wild (saxophone), Akash Chauhan (drums), Jeremy Barton (guitar), Eli Cohen (bass) and Sam Mercedes (piano).

Another Soaring Eagle Scout Project

Eagle Scout Robert Brusak from Indian Head, IL near Chicago has already collected almost 60 music instruments for his Eagle Scout Service Project that will benefit Hungry for Music’s donation program for underserved children.  His drive will run throughout the rest of the summer.  Robert still has a ways to go to break Eagle Scout Jackson Ledbetter’s recording breaking total of 293 last year in Haymarket, VA.  Keep up the great work, Robert!

Mitzvah Magic

We appreciate Mitzvah Market for letting their clients know about Hungry for Music.  Working with them has increased the number of mitzvah kids performing a fundraising and/or instrument drive for their bat or bar mitzvah. 

Youth service projects contribute more than half the instruments collected by Hungry for Music annually.  Hungry for Music couldn’t do what it does without the support of all these special kids and we are so grateful!

Testimonial – Fuel for the Mission
“Thank you again for the Baritone Horn you donated to us here at Walnut Street Elementary school last year. It is making a big difference in the life of the student that's been playing it. The student's name is Frank, and he's in 4th grade. He's done incredible on it. So many of his teachers in the past say that he's made such a turn around in his behavior this year. I think it's because he's found something here at school in playing the baritone horn that he truly loves and is very good at. It's like you donating this baritone and finding Frank was meant to be. I can't express enough how grateful I am to your organization and what you do. Hungry for Music is making a difference in kids’ lives. I see it everyday here with Frank.”
Since becoming a non-profit 24 years ago, Hungry for Music has brought the healing quality of music to more than 12,000 children in 49 states and 28 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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