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Hungry for Music Notes
March 2016 |
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Thank you to graphic artist extraordinaire Gina Cocco of Snap2Promos for putting together the new collage above from 2015 photos!
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Notes from the Road
by Jeff Campbell |
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After a long-overdue visit to my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, the Magic Music Bus Tour began with my arrival in New Orleans on March 4.
In Shreveport, I actually kicked things off with a meeting with Greg LeGrand of the Ark-La-Tex Heritage Foundation to firm up details of the Music Instrument Drive our organizations are partnering on. Hungry for Music, LeGrand’s group and Shreveport Music will join together on the program, which will begin in May and last until the Music Festival at the end of summer.
My first week in New Orleans was nothing short of magical. I met and secured interviews with WWOZ, the best radio station on the planet. I
met with Scott Aiges, Director of Music Education Programs at the Jazz and Heritage Foundation, who gave me a tour of their beautiful new education facility on Rampart Street. I also twice visited Roots of Music, a program that Hungry for Music has supported since its inception, at its new location in Treme. I met with founder and Rebirth Brass Band drummer, Derek Tabb, and the director Anne Messner.
Over the weekend, I went to an event of the Sticking Up for Children Foundation and made many useful connections and potential volunteers to help with our mission here.
Before the Magic Music Bus tour began, we delivered four snare drums and four trumpets to the Preservation Jazz Foundation’s music program in a local juvenile detention center and made plans to meet them to discuss ways to continue our partnership. I met a retired music teacher, who noticed the music-theme-wrapped Big Bertha at a gas station. We talked for a half-hour about his music experience and interest in helping us here.
My intention for the Magic Music Bus for each city is to create a team of volunteers to pick up, repair and distribute instruments to area children and programs in need – and to create a coalition of these groups, the programs in need and those who can support and provide. Some of these groups also have surplus of instruments that can be used by other programs. My hope is for Hungry for Music to help facilitate these instrument exchanges between these groups.
If the first week is any indication, this will certainly be one magical music tour that will expand Hungry for Music’s outreach. |
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Sticking Up for Children instructor, former Professor Longhair percussionist, Alfred "Uganda" Roberts
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Chickie Wah Wah Benefit March 27 |
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WHO? Susan Cowsill Band, Pink Slip (Sue & Jimmy Ford, et al), Paul Sanchez, Lynn Drury, Alex McMurray, Daria Dzurik, Chris Adkins, Graham Robinson, Russ Broussard, and special guests
WHAT? An evening of excellent music for a great cause!
WHEN? Easter Sunday Night, 7 pm until
WHERE? Chickie Wah Wah, 2828 Canal Blvd., New Orleans
HOW MUCH? $10 - Instrument Donations accepted at the door!
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We love to get photos and videos from happy students with their new instruments. You can check out two of those videos below. The first was sent by Matthew Angel, a music teacher in Los Angeles who requested two violins and two violas for four of his students. The second video was sent by Hefen Sa Akhi, a music teacher in New York who requested a keyboard for Christian, one of her students. |
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Upcoming Magic Music Bus Stops:
Little Rock, AR
Memphis, TN
Nashville, TN
Hungry for Crawfish
Alexandria, VA
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Benefit
Cleveland, OH
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Kudos to Adam Solomon of Potomac, Maryland, for his work in support of Hungry for Music's mission. Adam collected nearly 20 instruments for his Bar Mitzvah Service Project. Great job, Adam! |
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For the past few months, we've been working hard to fill an overwhelming number of instrument requests from all over the country. The last few shipments will be going out soon.
We want to thank HFM volunteer James Vance for diligently handling the packing and shipping of instruments to more than 15 cities. James, a student at George Mason University, provides a valuable service and we greatly appreciate his commitment to Hungry for Music.
If you've received a Hungry for Music instrument, please consider making a $20
donation to help cover shipping costs. |
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Two weeks ago, we delivered three marching drums to New Orleans Charter Science & Mathematics High School, located in the heart of New Orleans.
We are glad we were able to help these young musicians and can't wait to see them march in next year's Mardi Gras parades! |
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"...our first music concert. First in over 50 years to showcase students in our small town...all are very grateful and honored by the support Hungry for Music offered. Thank you is not enough – it is truly an appreciated gift." Ukiah School District, Ukiah, OR |
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Happy 3rd Anniversary to Roxbury Youth Orchesta in Massachusetts! Hungry for Music donated 20 stringed instruments to help them launch their program and we've given a dozen more since then. They are doing great work. You can learn more about the program in the inspiring video below. |
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"In the last three years we have seen increases in academic performance and self-esteem, the creation of positive peer relationships, and incredible increases in focus and determination."
Revolution of Hope
Roxbury Student Orchestra
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Since becoming a non-profit 20 years ago, Hungry for Music has brought the healing quality of music to nearly eight thousand children 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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Miss a recent newsletter? Click the link to view past issues.
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