When school art and music programs are not fully funded, someone needs to jump in an meet the need. In mid February 2009, Mr. Sergio Rodriguez, the orchestra conductor at Grady High School in midtown Atlanta, put out the call. He was looking for help coaching students enrolled in his orchestras. When it comes to cultivating advanced players, private lessons make all the difference in the world, and very few of Mr. Rodriguez's students were taking lessons.

The Music Center responded and quickly worked out plans with the school's music department and music boosters. Beginning in March 2009, Music Center faculty began attending orchestra rehearsals during the school day to coach individuals and sectionals.

Just about every day of the week since then, one or more of the Center's faculty is on the campus of Grady High School, teaching students during the orchestra's regularly scheduled morning and afternoon rehearsals. Currently, Natia Estatia (MM, Manhattan School of Music and MA in Education, Teacher's College at Columbia University), Elizabeth Oladele (BM, UGA), and Val Taylor (BA, Harvard University) serve the Grady students and the program with their passion and expertise. Most remarkable of all, instruction is being offered free of any charge to the students or the school.  

So, where's the money coming from to pay instructors for free lessons? The Center pieces together funding for generous outreach through multiple income streams. First, there are donations to the Community Music Education Fund; gifts small and large add up and allow us to serve the community through outreach. Second, the Grady Orchestra Boosters have contributed through various fund raising projects.  Third, when you make a purchase through our on-line store, we use a portion of the proceeds to pay instructors for time spent teaching in community outreach projects.

Watch for more news in the spring of 2010 for ways you can support Music Center outreach to Grady and other schools.