All the News on Music4Life
Total Instruments Delivered
Music4Life™ has delivered 163 full-size and ready-to-play musical instruments, plus 1,290 recorders for our program with the Seattle Symphony, all valued at $118,758 to its 14 participating public school districts since Sept. 1, 2023. All instrument values are after repairs have been completed and are estimated by our independent third-party vendor/experts.
Intended for use by the students of income-qualified families, each instrument is a “loaner” that must be returned when the student leaves the school district (due to graduation, family moves to another school district, etc.) so another student of a family in-need can benefit from its use.
2024 “Blues ‘n Brews Festival” in Des Moines
The annual Poverty Bay "Blues ‘n Brews Festival" is scheduled for August 24th at the Des Moines Beach Park. A production of the Des Moines/Normandy Park Rotary Club, Blues ‘n Brews again features four prominent blues bands to entertain you all day starting at 11:00 a.m. Also featured will be local craft brews, cider, wine and cocktails. Tickets starting at $45 each are available online right now. 100 percent of net proceeds support the causes powered by Des Moines/Normandy Park Rotary, including the Highline Music4Life program. This event is a REAL HOOT, so don’t miss it!
New Chapters Serve the Issaquah & Sultan School Districts
Students attending public schools in Issaquah and Sultan become our 13th and 14th chapters of Music4Life. Ready-to-play musical instruments are already being delivered to Issaquah Public Schools for Issaquah Music4Life. Music4Life Treasurer Andrew Face does double duty as Founding President of the Issaquah Chapter. The Founding President of the new Sultan-area chapter is Cheryl Ricevuto. ”Sky Valley Music4Life” is the official chapter name for Sultan area students and is in the early stages of rollout.
Music4Life Is A Community Service Program
Music4Life has been serving students in the Puget Sound area since 2007. We are financially supported by many local Rotary clubs, such as the Rotary Club of Kent (recent financial donation of $1,500) and the Rotary Club of Issaquah ($2,000). The key word in that last sentence is “supported.” Rotary clubs support Music4Life but don’t own it. Many other organizations and individuals support us, as well, and all are welcome. Kiwanis; Lions; Soroptimists; Chambers of Commerce; and many others. Not to be forgotten is the donation of $2,500 by the Everett Cultural Arts Commission. Even though we’ve provided thousands of musical instruments since being created, we know that we’re still just scratching the real need that’s out there. Join us, won’t you?!
Anonymous Financial Donations Received
Two large financial donations have been received recently. Both are anonymous. One family foundation recently sent us a check for $5,000. A week later came a second check for $10,000. At the donor’s request, both are dedicated to our Chapters in Snohomish County. Another “unrestricted” check for $26,000 came from a family foundation saying they will make it annually. We are considering using these funds to tune pianos throughout our entire 14 Chapter system. Pianos, BTW, that haven’t been tuned in years! The foundation instrument for every music program, pianos are integral to concerts, solo or ensemble accompaniment and even for chorales.
Every Instrument Comes in A Case
Students need to take their musical instruments home with them for extra practice. That means transport on a bus, in a car or just walking. Protected from the elements. Therefore, every instrument also comes in a serviceable case. Sometimes an instrument is donated to us without a case. So we either get one from our stock of available instrument cases or we buy one for it.
Looking for Governing Board Members
Music4Life seeks volunteer Governing Board members. Those who share our values of “kids,” “instrumental music” or “education" are welcome to apply. We particularly seek those with marketing, development (fund raising) or finance expertise. Also welcome are those who are interested in service on one of our 14 local Chapter teams. If one of these describes you, just contact us at David@Music4Life.org.
Total Instruments Delivered
Music4Life™ has delivered 133 full-size and ready-to-play musical instruments, plus 1,290 recorders for our program with the Seattle Symphony, all valued at $92,172, to its 12 participating public school districts since Sept. 1, 2023. All instrument values are after repairs have been completed and are estimated by our independent third-party vendor-experts.
Intended for use by the students of income-qualified families, each instrument is a “loaner” that must be returned when the student leaves the school district (due to graduation, family moves to another school district, etc.) so another student of a family in-need can benefit from its use.
Largest Single Grant Ever
An anonymous donor has provided the single largest financial contribution ever received by Music4Life: $26,000. This is intended as a matching grant. Further, the donor has pledged that this will be an annual donation and that they will consider including Music4Life in their will. Our Rule No. 1 has always been “to honor the donor’s wishes” (whether of a musical instrument or a financial donation), so details about how the grant will be used are being worked out with the donor. Participating public school districts should expect a sizeable impact starting this new fiscal year, 2024-25, if not sooner.
New Chapter Serves the Lake Washington School District
Our newest and 12th Chapter is officially serving the students of the Lake Washington School District. Kudos go to Dr. Gary Cohn, President of Kirkland Rotary and former State Superintendent of the Year (2017, Everett Public Schools). Already endorsed by Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen, the Founding President of the Lake Washington Chapter is Prof. Jocelyn Reiter Ellison, Professor Emerita from the University of Arizona where she was Director of Graduate Studies in Music. Jocelyn welcomes all who care about “kids,” “instrumental music” or “education” to join the Chapter team. Soon expected to be announced is our 13th Chapter serving the students of Issaquah P.S.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
Foster Garvey PC and attorney Claire Hawkins have provided invaluable pro bono legal assistance to Music4Life. Since Music4Life's inception in 2007, Claire and her team have been instrumental in key initiatives for Music4Life, including the challenging process of establishing non-profit status. Our collaborative partnership together reflects Foster Garvey’s strong commitment to supporting community programs nationwide and engaging in pro bono efforts across various causes to promote educational and artistic development. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Claire and the entire team at Foster Garvey for their ongoing support and immense dedication to making a positive impact with their exceptional legal acumen.
Linked Up Program with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra
As many as 1,290 Highline Schools students, mostly fourth graders, received recorders (the flute-like instrument that sticks straight out of the mouth) late last year. They spent a couple months learning to play their first musical instrument and were then invited to Benaroya Hall to play their recorders WITH the Seattle Symphony Orchestra (SSO). Part of the SSO’s Link Up program, the students nearly filled the main floor sections of Benaroya Hall, with teachers, parents and others in the balconies supporting them. Highline Music4Life Chapter President Cathy Thompson says, “I can see that it could be life changing for children who do not otherwise have access to professional performances.” Yup. That’s Music4Life!!!
Music4Life Is A “Community Service” Activity
Music4Life has Chapters that are public school district based. Twelve in all right now. All have local team members, so we have our feet on the ground in all participating school districts. Even though we started as a Rotary activity, we’re now an independent 501-c-3 non-profit organization. We welcome members of Kiwanis, Lions, Soroptimists, Chambers and anyone else who shares our values and dedication to “kids,” “instrumental music” or “education.” Looking for something meaningful to do with your time? Just contact any of our Chapter presidents.
Instrument Repair Shops Are All Backed-Up
Many would like to think that the pandemic of Covid is behind us and resolved. Don’t try to tell that to the vendor/repair shops that do our work. Many skilled technicians were laid off or just lost their jobs during the pandemic and have had to go on to other things. As the shops started recovering, they found it difficult to get many of these workers back. The result has been a huge backlog of instrument repair work by nearly all vendor/repair shops. We’re trying to find more shops, but a result has been slowed delivery of instruments we approve for repairs.
We Use Two Metrics
How does Music4Life keep track of its impact on student musicians? We don’t identify individual students who get our ready-to-play musical instruments because family income information is VERY privileged. But we do keep track each year of the number of each musical instrument delivered to public school districts and the fair market value of each. The reason is simple: A piccolo and a piano are each counted as one instrument, but they have vastly different values. Same for an alto saxophone or a bassoon, etc. We not only track these two metrics by year, but by each participating public school district and by month of delivery. It’s all part of our ongoing effort to provide accountability.
Looking for Governing Board Members
Music4Life seeks volunteer Governing Board members. Those who share our values of “kids,” “instrumental music” or “education" are welcome to apply. We particularly seek those with marketing, development (fund raising) or finance expertise. Also welcome are those who are interested in service on one of our 12 local Chapter teams. If one of these describes you, just contact us at David@Music4Life.org.
SEATTLE, Washington Music4Life is adding its 12th chapter serving the students of families in-need who attend the Lake Washington School District. Students receive ready-to-play musical instruments at no charge to the school district.
The Seattle-based non-profit acquires instruments from adults who no longer need them and decide that their highest and best use is to put them back into play. The Music4Life Donor Form must accompany the instrument. Music4Life started in 2007 by providing ready-to-play musical instruments to Seattle Public Schools. Since then, chapters have been added for Highline, Shoreline, Edmonds, Everett, Northshore, Bremerton, Auburn, Kent, Marysville, Riverview and now Lake Washington public school districts.
Dr. Gary Cohn, president of the Rotary Club of Kirkland, initiated the new chapter after having started a Music4Life program that is still serving Everett Public Schools. “Music4Life is a wonderful gift in our schools, especially those with larger numbers of students of poverty,” says the former Everett superintendent. “The program provides yet another support for students and contributes to reducing barriers to accessing music programs that serve students in school and for the rest of their lives.”
Prof. Jocelyn Reiter Ellison of the Rotary Club of Kirkland serves as the chapter’s founding president and notes that, “As a former music teacher and professional musician, I am especially excited to be chairing Music4Life's twelfth school district program.” Ellison is Professor Emerita from the University of Arizona where she was Director of Graduate Studies in Music.
Research shows that students who participate in school-based instrumental music activities do better in math, science, history, literature, international languages, reading and writing, even in computer science, in addition to what it teaches in terms of teamwork and self-discipline. “Not all children want to participate in instrumental music activities, of course,” says Co-Founder/CEO David Endicott. “But for those who do and whose families cannot afford a musical instrument, they are effectively barred from getting the full basic education guaranteed by the Washington Constitution. And the sad fact is that, even in today’s post-pandemic economy, many families cannot even afford to rent a musical instrument. So Music4Life is just as much an education program as it is an instrumental music program.”
Village Theatre (Issaquah & Everett) is proud to share the incredible work of Music4Life™ during their production of "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical." The play runs from November 14th to December 23rd at Village Theatre in Issaquah and from January 6, 2024 to January 28, 2024 in Everett.
Get more info and buy tickets here.
Music4Life reports delivering 258 full-sized ready-to-play musical instruments during the 2022-23 school year to its 11 participating public school districts. The instruments are free-of-charge and intended for use by the students of families in-need.
Also provided were 1,375 recorders (the little flute-like instrument that sticks straight out of the mouth) for use by third- and fourth-graders in the Link-Up program with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. The youngsters get their recorders in the fall, learn to play them and are then invited to Benaroya Hall to play the instruments with the Seattle Symphony.
“The total value of instruments provided is $126,923 as determined by our independent vendor/repair experts,” says Music4Life C-Founder & CEO David Endicott. “Need” is often demonstrated by a family’s participation in free-or- reduced lunch programs and determined at the teacher level, he adds.
Research shows that students who participate in school instrumental music activities do better in math, science, history, literature, international languages, reading and writing, even in computer science, in addition to what it teaches in terms of teamwork and self-discipline. Not all children want to participate in instrumental music activities, of course.
“But for those who do and whose families cannot afford a musical instrument,” Endicott says, “they are effectively barred from getting the full basic education guaranteed to them by the Washington State Constitution. And the sad fact is that, in today’s pandemic-recovering economy, many families cannot even afford to rent a musical instrument. So Music4Life is just as much an education program as it is an instrumental music program.”
During this fiscal school year, Music4Life delivered ready-to-play musical instruments to Auburn, Bremerton, Edmonds, Everett, Highline, Kent, Marysville, Northshore, Riverview, Seattle and Shoreline Public Schools. Several new public school districts are being considered and others are welcome to apply. It is sponsored by Rotary clubs and other community service organizations, corporations, foundations, government agencies and individual donors.
Ready-to-play musical instruments are provided to qualified students in these as long as they stay enrolled in that public school district. “We figure that the more they use the instruments, the better they’ll get,” Endicott says. “If they leave the school district for any reason, such as graduation or the family moves, the instrument needs to be returned to the school district so another student of a family in-need can benefit from its use.” Each instrument has a remaining useful life of three-to-15 years, meaning that multiple students may benefit from its use.
“Local enthusiasts who share our values of service to ‘kids,’ ‘instrumental music’ or ‘education’ are welcome to join one of our local Chapters,” Endicott says.
Total Instruments Delivered
Music4Life™ has delivered 1,629 ready-to-play musical instruments valued at $124,150 to its 11 participating public school districts since Sept. 1, 2022. All instrument values are after repairs are completed and are estimated by our independent third-party vendor-experts.
Intended for use by the students of income-qualified families, each instrument must be returned when the student leaves the school district (due to graduation, family moves to another school district, etc.) so another student can benefit from its use.
Blues ‘n Brews Set for August 26th
The 12th annual Poverty Bay Blues ‘n Brews Festival is set for Saturday, August 26th, at the Des Moines Beach Park. The event opens at 11 a.m. and features four prominent blues bands during the day, a dozen or so local craft breweries, ciders & wines and a variety of fine foods for purchase. The price of admission gets you tokens you can redeem for all of the brews and food. This is a honkin’ good time!! You must be 21 to enter and no pets are allowed.
Alaska Airlines is providing Highline Music4Life with two complimentary round-trip tickets anywhere they fly (seat value is $1,250 each) as benefits for a raffle that will be limited to the first 100 raffle ticket buyers. So you’ve got one-in-a-hundred chances to win; two-in-a-hundred if you’re a couple. A HECK of a lot better odds than the lottery! Limited to the first 100 raffle ticket buyers at $50 each ticket.
Adieu to Long-Time Treasurer
Having served two separate terms for nearly half of our entire 17-years of existence, Gary M. Ryno has decided to step-away as our volunteer Music4Life Treasurer and Governing Board Member. A seasoned finance veteran nearly all his professional life, Gary had been a senior-level executive of Seattle Trust, Sumitomo Bank, Asia-Europe-Americas Bank and others. It’s hard to know how to thank Gary enough for all his help and guidance.
So, we’re now in search of a new volunteer treasurer. Let us know if you have ideas to discuss.
Ukulele Fest Held in Everett
An inaugural "Ukulele Festival" was held in May at the Everett Civic Auditorium that featured beginning music student groups.
Our abundant congratulations to Everett music teacher Emily Cheever, Everett Chapter President Jane Webber and the rest of the event’s organizers. Special thanks go to Joyce Yamane & Steve Waite of the Kazuo & Mary Yamane Foundation for buying 78 of the ukuleles used that evening!
Lamar Billboards Promote Des Moines Event
Be on the lookout for outdoor advertising supporting the Poverty Bay Blues ‘n Brews Festival in Des Moines that are provided by Lamar Advertising. Lamar is the national agency that acquired Clear Channel a few years ago, the successor itself to Ackerly Communications. For several years Lamar and Clear Channel before it have provided free outdoor advertising to support events from which Music4Life is a primary beneficiary. Many thanks to Lamar for its continuing work on our behalf.
Fred Meyer Helps
In case you weren’t aware, Fred Meyer and other retailers in the area provide financial support to Music4Life at no extra charge to you. As part of their "good will" efforts, Freddy’s and others provide us a part of your purchase price every time you shop there. Freddy’s support is limited to organizations involved with youth development, hunger relief, and community services in Washington. All you need do is sign-up on Freddy's charitable giving site and select "Music4Life" as your desired beneficiary. Everything else is automatic..
Large Increase in Delivered Instruments
In case you were wondering, Music4Life experienced a rather large increase in the number of delivered instruments this year. In past years we’ve been able to provide about 250-300 ready-to-play musical instruments, everything from piccolos to pianos. As you can see from the first article in this newsletter, that has gone up to more than 1,600 instruments.
The reason: The Governing Board decided we should start counting recorders (the little flute-light instrument that sticks straight out of the mouth) that are provided to 3rd and 4th graders to play with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra at Benaroya Hall. We provided 1,375 recorders to Highline students for this purpose. The basic policy reasoning is that recorders are also entry-level instruments that start a student on the road to Music4Life and, thus, should be counted. Just thought you should know this for clarification.
Why We Use Two Metrics for Measuring Success
Music4Life has always used two metrics for determining our success:
1) The number of delivered musical instruments; and
2) The fair market value of each instrument.
Here’s why. A piccolo and a piano both count as one musical instrument each. But their values are likely to be vastly different, especially if the piano is a baby grand or a grand. As a "recovering tuba" player, it’s not likely I’ll know about the values of a violin, a bassoon or a clarinet. So we leave that decision to our preferred vendors. We ask them to tell us what they’d sell the repaired instrument for if they put it on their shelf for purchase by the public. Month-to-month, we do our best to see to it that instrument values are delivered to participating public school districts based on the relative financial productivity of their Chapter teams. As it works out, one of our Chapters with the highest financial productivity (Highline) is also working for the school district where the need is greatest.
How We Know What Instruments Are Needed
Every year at this time we ask our participating public school district representatives to tell us the specific kinds of instruments they need during the coming year. Some school districts don’t have orchestras, so strings are not needed. For others, there may be a need for more trumpets — or violins — or clarinets, etc. A list of about three dozen instruments is provided to each. This is one tool that helps us provide instruments that school districts say they need. These "Instrument Needs Surveys" will be going out very soon.
Annual Report Now Available
The Music4Life Annual Report is now available on our website. It addresses activities during our two most recent years and reports our successes and our shepherding of your resources. (The current fiscal year doesn’t end until August 31st.) Contact us if you have questions.
Total Instruments Delivered
Music4Life™ has delivered 1,599 ready-to-play musical instruments valued at $102,750 to its 11 participating public school districts since Sept. 1, 2022. All instrument values are estimated by our independent third-party vendor-experts. Intended for use by the students of income-qualified families, each instrument must be returned when the student leaves the school district (due to graduation, family moves to another school district, etc.) so another student can benefit from its use.
Budget Cutbacks in Public Education
One of the unfortunate effects of the pandemic has been declining public school enrollments. A result is cuts in school district budgets due to declining state support. And as most of us have come to know, “the arts are the first to go.” Alas, too many of these are elementary school programs, the age at which most kids become at-risk and need something meaningful to do with their time. Something such as instrumental music activities.
Music4Life is discussing declining budgets with the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) and other high level organizations. Part of the answer may lie with greater awareness of the real importance of all arts in the fundamental education guaranteed by the state constitution. So write to your local newspaper. Write to your state representative and state senator. No matter what happens, there will still be students of families in-need who cannot afford musical instruments. So Music4Life will continue soldiering-on to meet this need.
SnoCo Arts Renews Its Support
The Snohomish County Arts Commission has renewed its annual support for Music4Life. The SnoCo Arts grant of $3,000 is limited to support students in our participating Everett, Edmonds, Marysville and Northshore Schools programs, just as the King County award supports programs there. Other public school districts are welcome to join us, as well. As always, our ABUNDANT THANKS to SnoCo Arts for its ongoing financial support and enthusiasm for the work of Music4Life!
The POWER of Instrumental Music
The power of instrumental music was on display in Everett on Monday evening, May 15th, as students began their journey into the wonderful world of music by playing ukuleles, 78 of which were donated by the Kazuo & Mary Yamane Foundation. On hand for the "Music4Life Ukulele Fest" were Joyce Yamane and husband Steve Waite. Joyce points out that the ukulele is a terrific beginner's instrument from which many graduate to the trumpets, saxophones, violins, bassoons and other musical instruments of the band and orchestra world. Many thanks to Joyce and Steve for making the event possible!
AmazonSmile Is Cancelled
In case you hadn’t noticed, Amazon has cancelled its AmazonSmile program. The program had been designed to provide a portion of each purchase at no additional cost to the buyer and was a significant potential source of revenue for qualified non-profit activities such as Music4Life. No explanation was available. We have noticed, however that very similar programs are available at QFC and Fred Meyer. There’s no extra cost to you! All you have to do is sign up and designate Music4Life as your beneficiary.
Student Use Agreement to School Rep’s
One way to increase the impact of Music4Life instruments provided to students has been to assure that the instruments remain in the school districts after the student no longer uses them (such as after graduation or the family moves out of the school district). Students who get our ready-to-play instruments, therefore, are told that each instrument is a “loaner.” S/He’s welcome to use it as long as it’s playable and s/he remains in the school district. After that, the instrument needs to be returned to the school district so another student who needs it can benefit from its use. The updated Student Use Agreement will e-distributed to all participating school districts beginning with the new school year on September 1st.
Total Instruments Delivered Music4Life™ has delivered 1,567 ready-to-play musical instruments valued at $79,326 to its 11 participating public school districts since Sept. 1, 2023. All instrument values are estimated by our independent third-party vendor-experts. Intended for use by the students of income-qualified families, each instrument must be returned when the student leaves the school district (due to graduation, family moves to another school district, etc.) so another student can benefit from its use.
Views of an Everett Music Teacher Sometimes others just say it better than we can.
"Thank you SO much for facilitating this in lightning-speed time! I wish you could have been here to see this young girl’s face … and now she will be able to be in band next year. There are no words to describe the look on her face as tears of joy ran down her cheek upon realizing what this meant for her. Your hearts would have been full of joy if you knew just how important this is to her. I know none of us go into music teaching for the financial rewards – it’s moments like this that make it all worthwhile. "And the added bonus of what you are doing is that it doesn’t stop with her…this instrument will serve many students over the course of its lifetime. The extent of your generosity goes way beyond what you will ever know. So thank you for your tireless efforts and endless generosity as ambassadors for Music4Life. I’m your biggest fan!" Lesley Moffat Jackson High School in Everett 4Culture Renews Its Support
4Culture [formerly the Seattle-King County Arts Commission (“one percent for the arts”)] has renewed its annual “arts sustained support” for Music4Life.
More than a 60 percent increase over the pre-pandemic support, the new funds TOTALING $4,500 will be used to support those public school district programs within King County (Auburn, Highline, Kent, Northshore, Riverview, Seattle and Shoreline) during the 2023-24 school year.
As always, our ABUNDANT THANKS to 4Culture (and to Bret Fetzer) for their ongoing financial support and enthusiasm for our work!
Jackson High School Gets a Grand Piano
Jackson H.S. in Everett is getting a Young Chang grand piano. Thanks go to donor Gordon Graham, whose late wife Mary Pat played it constantly in their Mukilteo home and willed it to Music4Life.
Recorders for Highline
One thousand three hundred seventy-five (1,375) young Highline students are now learning to play their recorders (the little flute-like instrument that sticks straight out of the mouth). Seen by most as an entry-level (beginner) instrument, these recorders have been provided by Music4Life to third- and fourth-graders in the Highline Schools system.
What’s unusual about these recorders is that the kids are taking a couple months to learn to play them and then will be invited to play them in Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra on May 11, 18 & 19. It’s always an event that none of the kids and most of the rest of us will never forget!
Seattle Symphony CEO to Speak at Rotary Speaking of the Seattle Symphony, Krishna Thiagarajan, CEO of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, is scheduled to speak to the Puget Sound Passport Rotary Club, on March 1st at 5 pm. "Success in a Post-Pandemic Environment" is his topic for all senior management, not just the arts. Everyone is welcome to attend, so just click here to join the meeting. March 1st at 5 pm.
Ukuleles for Everett Another entry-level instrument is the ukulele. 78 students in Everett Public Schools have begun playing their new ukuleles that have been provided by the Yamane Family Foundation. The students’ work culminates with a concert on May 15th at 7 pm in the Everett Civic Auditorium. Hope you can join us there!
New Arts Education Law Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal has issued "New Educator Endorsement Requirements for Visual and Performing Arts Instruction" for all public school districts in Washington state. This adds visual and performing arts to the list of common school instruction requirements for all K-12 education. It adds new endorsement requirements for educators teaching the arts. New requirements for arts course offerings for students in elementary, middle and for grades 9 through 12 are required beginning in school year 2023–24. In other words, now. The instructions implement legislation that became law last year. The new arts requirement comes at a time of declining public school district enrollments and budget cutbacks.
Total Instruments Delivered In case you haven't heard yet, Music4Life™ has delivered more than 3,000 ready-to-play musical instruments in our first 15 years to local school districts for use by students from income-qualified families.
Last year alone (ending August 31st), we delivered 276 instruments valued at $109,802. All instrument values are estimated by our independent third-party vendor-experts.
Intended for use by the students of income-qualified families, each instrument must be returned when the student leaves the school district (due to graduation, family moves to another school district, etc.) so another student in-need can benefit from its use.
Local Music Teacher Cites Importance Occasionally, someone else describes the importance of Music4Life for students interested in instrumental music but whose families can't afford instruments. Here's a recent example:
"After teaching high school band for 30 years, I moved to teaching middle school this year. In the high school, most students provide their own instruments, however, at the middle school, that's not the case.
"Until this year, I had no idea what a critical role Music4Life plays in subsidizing the instruments the district provides. Holy cow. If it weren't for M4L, we'd have a lot of students who would not be able to play an instrument, or at least not the instrument of their choice.
"I am now only fully beginning to comprehend how much M4L contributes to the students in our school district, and I am in awe.
"THANK YOU to everyone who donates, repairs and provides instruments for our students. It matters."
Lesley Moffat Director of Bands Heatherwood Middle School Mill Creek, Washington
Top-to-Bottom Evaluation Completed Music4Life recently commissioned the Ostara Group to do a top-to-bottom / inside-out review of what we do and how we do it. (Ostara is the prominent development consulting firm in Seattle that's done similar work for Cancer Lifeline, the Ballard Food Bank, Bloedel Reserve and others.)
Hundreds of financial and instrument donors, Chapter leaders and others were surveyed. Besides praising our efforts, respondents had several recommendations that we're implementing. You'll be hearing more about these in future editions of Quarter Notes. In the meantime, many thanks to all who responded, as well as to Ali Marcus, Adam Runions & Scott Sadler of Ostara. More Students Are Interested in Instrumental Music
Everett Chapter President Jane Webber reports a 29.4 percent increase in the number of students participating in band programs in Everett Public Schools (684 students last school year to 885) and a whopping 48.9 percent increase in the number of students in orchestra programs (372 to 554) there during the same period. More and more students are interested in instrumental music, it seems. The State of Washington is also requiring more attention to arts education (see next edition).
Recorders for Highline
Highline P.S. fourth graders recently received 1,375 recorders (the little flute-like instrument that sticks straight out of the mouth) purchased by Music4Life with funds from the Des Moines / Normandy Park Rotary Club.
Ukuleles for Everett Students
Another entry-level musical instrument is the ukulele, 78 of which have been ordered for Everett P.S. At a unit cost of about $75 each, the uk's have been purchased with a major grant from the Yamane Family Foundation.
Many Thanks to Lamar Advertising
Music4Life enjoys the active support of several regional and local communications organizations (KING FM Radio, Encore Media Group, Shoreline Area News among them). Several years ago Lamar Advertising (billboard, digital, transit & airport advertising) acquired Clear Channel Communications that previously had acquired Ackerley Communications. Lamar has offices serving the Puget Sound area, as well as Yakima.
NOTE: Lamar provides billboard support on a space-available basis. Music4Life doesn't buy advertising from anyone so we can put maximum resources into instrument repairs for kids.
Total Instruments Delivered Music4Life™ has delivered 251 instruments valued at $98,502 to its 11 participating public school districts since Sept. 1, 2021. All instrument values are estimated by our independent third-party vendor-experts. Intended for use by the students of income-qualified families, each instrument must be returned when the student leaves the school district (graduation, family moves to another school district, etc.) so another student can benefit from its use.
Major Grant from 4Culture
4Culture (formerly the Seattle/King County Arts Commission) provides an annual sustaining grant to Music4Life for its operations in King County. Due to the pandemic, other funds have become available that allow a one-time grant of $11,500. As usual, these funds will be used to support our seven Chapters in King County based on the relative financial productivity of each of their Chapter teams.
Superintendent Bids Farewell
"Thank you ... I am grateful for all you have done for our students over the years. It has been a pleasure working with you (Highline Music4Life)."
So says Superintendent Susan Enfield as she leaves Highline Public Schools to everyone's great regret after ten-plus years at its helm to pursue other educational leadership opportunities. Not all superintendents are anywhere nearly as beloved as Superintendent Susan has become. Our very best wishes go with you, Superintendent Susan!
Highline Schools Foundation Support
Highline Music4Life President Cathy Thompson reports that the Highline Schools Foundation has renewed its financial support for the Highline program with a grant of $5,000. All funds will be used, of course, exclusively to benefit students attending Highline Public Schools. In addition to Music4Life, the Highline Foundation provides direct support for students, families, classrooms and schools in the Highline district. The Foundation also welcomes new Executive Director Fred Swanson as it bids adieu to Anne Gillingham.
Windermere Program Produces
Our program with the Windermere Real Estate offices in Western Washington has resulted in more than three dozen "lovingly used" musical instruments donated to Music4Life. Windermere brokers & agents use the affiliation with Music4Life to enhance their client relationships as one example of Windermere's involvement in the community. Three offices were active in this year's effort: Edmonds, Seward Park and Shoreline (see photo), the latter alone producing more than two dozen instruments! Thanks to Shoreline Owner/Broker Theresa Alston. Many thanks again to Windermere President Jill Wood, as well as to Scott Mickelson of the corporate office.
Everett Donor Buys Tuba
The Seagull Band Boosters have provided resources for the purchase of a new Yamaha four-valve tuba (Editor's Note: Be still my heart!!) that will go to the Everett High School band. Ted Brown Music won the RFP for purchase of the instrument. After set-up and delivery for in-processing to Everett P.S., the tuba will be welcomed by band director Megan Vinther for use by her First Chair tuba player each year.
SnoCo Arts Commission Grant
The Snohomish County Arts Commission has provided a grant of $2,000 to Music4Life. These funds will be used to benefit students attending the four public school districts in Snohomish County (Edmonds, Everett, Marysville & Northshore) based on the relative financial productivity or each Chapter's team. Many thanks to SnoCo Arts! Other public school districts are welcome to benefit from Music4Life next year and beyond.
All Music4Life Instruments Are Loaners
It's very important to remember that all instruments provided by Music4Life, whether repaired or new, are on-loan to students. They're NOT owned by the students. There's a complicated legal reason for this. But our essential purpose is to provide instruments for use by students of families in-need. We encourage school districts to tell the kids they may use the instruments for any in- or out-of-school musical activities as long as they're enrolled in the school district. If they leave for any reason (graduation, family moves out of the district, etc.), the instrument must be returned to the school district so another student may benefit from its use. Most Music4Life instruments have a remaining useful life of three-to-five years, sometimes more. Ultimately, several students are likely to benefit from the use of each instrument.
Total Instruments Delivered Music4Life™ has delivered 162 ready-to-play musical instruments valued at $46,677 to its 11 participating public school districts since Sept. 1, 2021. All instrument values are estimated by our independent third-party vendor-experts. Intended for use by the students of income-qualified families, each instrument must be returned when the student leaves the school district (graduation, family moves to another school district, etc.) so another student can benefit from its use.
Largest Donation Ever Received Music4Life recently received its largest single financial donation ever. The $20,000 donation was from an anonymous source and to be used wherever there's the greatest need. Accordingly, the donation is assigned for use by all eleven public school district-based Chapters based on the relative financial productivity of each of their Chapter teams. If you are this donor, please accept our abundant thanks for helping to provide the life-long educational benefits of instrumental music to students who might not otherwise receive them.
Ukuleles to Everett Students
Our thanks also to the Kazuo & Mary Yamane Family Foundation for providing 64 new Kala tenor ukuleles to our Everett program. Shown here are students in Daniel Powers' Lowell Elementary School, one of four Everett schools that got ukuleles, starting on their life-long journey of instrumental music. Ukuleles are just one of several musical instruments (others that have been provided by Music4Life are recorders and harmonicas) used by beginner students. This is the second donation of ukuleles by the Yamane Family Foundation, the first set of 60 having gone last August to Highline Public Schools. Our thanks to the Yamane Family Foundation!
Why No Dollar Value for Donated Instruments
Music4Life receives hundreds of donated musical instruments each year from people who have them in their garages, attics or closets. Rather than still sitting there unused, donors often realize that their highest and best use is to put them back into play. We're grateful for every single donated instrument! Putting a dollar value on them is a complicated, highly regulated legal process that even most of our vendor-repair shops are not qualified to do. When requested, what we do instead is to provide detailed information about the musical instrument donated, right down to citing the serial number. This gives the donor information they'll need to defend the value of their donation to the IRS.
Kent Program Announces Summer Fund Raiser
The Kent Music4Life Chapter is planning an event for Sunday afternoon, July 21st. Details are still in-process. But Chapter President Allyson Johnson says the hope to feature prominent jazz saxophonist and local luminary Darren Motamedy. Join us!
Grant from Everett Cultural Arts Commission
Jane Webber, President of the Everett Music4Life Chapter, tells us the Cultural Arts Commission of the City of Everett has approved $2,000 for our Everett Program. Established in 1974, the Everett Cultural Arts Commission is a citizen advisory board composed of 11 volunteers (plus alternates) appointed by the mayor and City Council. Commission members include artists, arts professionals and citizens with strong links to Everett's arts community. Aaron Alonzo, Production Manager for KIDSTAGE/Village Theatre, serves as Commission Chair. The funds will be used exclusively to benefit students attending Everett Public Schools by funding repairs to donated instruments that are provided to the school district for students to play.
Backlog at Repair Shops Continues
Music4Life has approved the repair of a large number of musical instruments, all done at local instrument repair shops. We like the work to benefit as many local retailers as possible. Included are Kennelly Keys Music, hq'd in Lynnwood; Ted Brown Music, hq'd in Tacoma and numerous others. One of the unfortunate effects of the ongoing pandemic is that repair shops have had a hard time finding qualified repair technicians to fill vacancies caused by temporary store closures last year. You can't expect a dentist or auto mechanic to repair a used musical instrument. We soldier on!
Outreach to the Students of Families In-Need
Musical instruments are provided to the students of families in-need, especially the youngest students. Family income information is very privileged, of course. One way of demonstrating "need" is participation in school free-and-reduced-lunch programs. There may very well be others. The lack of in-person meetings only adds to the problem. Please let us know if you have an idea that can help reach families in-need. While we can’t promise a ready-to-play musical instrument to every child who needs one, we surely do want to do the best we can.
Instruments Are On-Loan to Students
The basic idea of Music4Life is that instruments are provided on a long-term loan basis to public school districts, who in turn lend them to students in-need. The students do not own the instruments. They may use them for any in- or out-of-school musical activity as long as they're enrolled in the school district. If they leave for any reason (graduation, parents move out of the district, etc.), the instruments must be returned to the school district so another student in-need can benefit from its use. Over the course of its remaining life, this means two, three, five other students ultimately may from the use of a single instrument. It's MAGIC!! :-)
Total Instruments Delivered Music4Life™ finished the 2020-21 fiscal year by providing 298 ready-to-play musical instruments valued at $145,632 to its 11 participating public school districts. This was an increase from the 240 instruments the previous year. All instrument values are according to our independent third-party vendor-experts. Intended for use by the students of income-qualified families, each instrument must be returned when the student leaves the school district (graduation, family moves to another school district, etc.) so another student can benefit from its use. The current year is off to a fast start with 79 instruments valued at $29,113 provided thru the end of December, not yet counting the 64 ukuleles (see Yamane below) delivered to our Everett program by month's end.
Blues 'n Brews Nets BIG-time for Music4Life
The 2021 Poverty Bay "Blues ‘n Brews Festival" returned in late August to great applause as home-bound celebrants returned to what was for many their first foray in a long time back to in-person gatherings. "A production of the Des Moines / Normandy Park Rotary Club, all of the net proceeds help power the beneficiaries of this Rotary Club, including the Highline Music4Life program and numerous others," says Cathy Thompson, president of Highline Music4Life. After a year-off caused by the pandemic, this was a fantastic event to re-connect with friends. "The spirit of local community service inspires our work," President Cathy says.
Yamane Family Foundation Helps Kids
The Kazuo & Mary Yamane Family Foundation has gifted another 64 ukuleles, this time to four Everett public schools, which will be delivered this month. These are in addition to the 60 ukuleles already delivered to the Highline School District. The Yamane Family Foundation, with its strong roots in Hawaii, believes that the ukulele is a great instrument to begin a student's journey into the wonderful world of music. How well the Yamane Family remembers the magic of strumming a ukulele in school! Music4Life works with local music store vendors to get discounted prices. MANY thanks to the Kazuo & Mary Yamane Family Foundation for giving students the opportunity of experiencing the joy of music, starting with ukuleles.
Encore Media Group
If you're one of many who've received their Covid vaccinations and have started attending live concerts again, you may begin noticing the Music4Life ads that are appearing in concert programs. Encore Media Group produces the printed and digital programs for many of the top arts organizations in the Puget Sound area and provides these ads in-kind to Music4Life. "We're always glad to learn that these ads inspire many musical instrument and financial donations to Music4Life," says Encore president (and long-time friend) Paul Heppner. As they say, Encore!!
Kent Music4Life Fund Raiser
The Kent Music4Life Chapter implemented its first-ever fund raiser at the start of our new fiscal year (always starts each Sept. 1st). The live, in-person event featured two professional musicians from the Auburn Symphony Orchestra. Proceeds are being used to pay for repairs to the musical instruments delivered this year to Kent Public Schools for use by students in-need. Attendees and financial donors included the new Interim Superintendent of Kent Public Schools, Israel Vela. Kent Music4Life President Allyson Johnson says thanks to Cynthia Boyd, Linda Mackintosh, Brenda Farwell and all the others who helped organize this successful kick-off event.
You Don’t Have to Be Local to Help!
Music4Life receives many "lovingly used" musical instruments and financial help from donors throughout the greater Puget Sound area. One of the many benefits of the virtual environment, however, is that you don’t have to be local to help. We've just received our first financial donation from Vern of Yorktown, Virginia! Music4Life was created in 2007 to help kids of needy families. Many also are at-risk. As you might well guess, there's no geographical limitation to where such kids are found. Meaning, we're willing to come your way, Vern! Many thanks
Instrument Repair Shops Are All Backed-up
One of the unfortunate temporary(?) outcomes of the pandemic is that instrument repair shops are all backed-up because of the difficulty in finding (and hiring!) qualified repair technicians. This is the case for all of our current vendors. Musical instruments need repair even if they've been sitting unused for a while. As most schools return to some form of in-person classes, our need for ready-to-play musical instruments increases even as repair shops struggle to recover.
The Passing of Marge Williams
Music4Life is sad to tell you of the passing of Marge Williams of the Kent Music4Life Chapter. Marge, along with husband Harry Williams, was there as we created the Kent Music4Life Chapter and an eager participant in its all activities. Marge was a long-time member of the Kent Sunrise Rotary Club and an incredibly valued and loving member of our Kent team. We miss you so much already, Marge!
SEATTLE, Washington Music4Life™ today reports delivering 298 Ready-to-play musical instruments during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 school year to its 11 participating public school districts. The instruments are free of charge to all school districts and represent a 24 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. The instruments have a fair market value of $145,632 as determined by independent vendor experts.
Music4Life.org is a non-profit that provides donated and repaired musical instruments at no charge to eleven local public school districts so all students may participate in school-based instrumental music activities. The organization is designed to benefit students of families in-need. "Need" is often demonstrated by participation in free or reduced lunch programs.
"This really is an astonishing accomplishment," says Music4Life Co-Founder and Chairman/CEO David Endicott, "especially when you realize that this was done in a pandemic environment." During 2019-20, Music4Life delivered 240 ready-to-play musical instruments to school districts. Participating are Auburn, Bremerton, Edmonds, Everett, Highline, Kent, Marysville, Northshore, Riverview, Seattle and Shoreline Public Schools.
Research shows that students who participate in school instrumental music activities do better in math, science, history, literature, international languages, reading and writing, even in computer science, in addition to what it teaches in terms of teamwork and self-discipline. Not all children want to participate in instrumental music activities, of course. "But for those who do and whose families cannot afford a musical instrument, " Endicott says, "they are effectively barred from getting the full basic education guaranteed to them by the Washington State Constitution. And the sad fact is that, in today's pandemic economy, many families cannot even afford to rent a musical instrument. So Music4Life is just as much an education program as it is an instrumental music program."
Ready-to-play musical instruments are provided to these school districts for use by students in any musical activity they choose, as long as they stay enrolled in that public school district. "We figure that the more they use them, the better they'll get," Endicott says. "If they leave the school district for any reason, such as graduation or the family moves, the instrument needs to be returned to the school district so another student can benefit from its use." Each instrument has a remaining useful life of three-to-15 years, meaning that multiple students may benefit from its use.
"Local enthusiast who share our values of service to 'kids,' 'instrumental music' or 'education' are welcome to join us," Endicott says.
Total Instruments Delivered As of this writing, Music4Life™ has delivered 283 donated and repaired full-sized musical instruments to our school districts. For use by students of income-qualified families, the "fair market value" of these 283 instruments and related materials is $137,282. All instrument values are according to our independent third-party vendor-experts. This is an increase of 18 percent of all instruments delivered during the entire previous year (2019-20). More are expected for delivery or pick-up before our fiscal year closes on August 31st
2021 "Blues 'n Brews Festival" on August 28th
The 2021 Poverty Bay "Blues 'n Brews Festival" returns on Saturday, August 28th (yup, that's next weekend!) at the Des Moines Beach Park. A production of the Des Moines/Normandy Park Rotary Club, the event starts at noon and features four "earth-shaking" blues bands, a dozen (or more) craft beers, wines from OneHope Wineries, soft drinks, plenty of food, a raffle, beer pong and other adults-only fun. All of the net proceeds help power the beneficiaries of the Rotary Club, including the Highline Music4Life program and others. After a year-off caused by the pandemic, this is a fantastic event to re-connect with friends. Advance sale tickets are available or at the door.
Kent Music4Life Fund Raiser The Kent Music4Life Chapter is planning a first-ever fund raiser for the late afternoon of September 9th, so Save the Date on your calendar. Proceeds will be used to pay for repairs to the 66 (and counting!) musical instruments delivered during the past 12 months to Kent Public Schools for use by students in-need. No need to have played a musical instrument during your lifetime: Other reasons to support this event include caring about kids or education. More details will be announced soon.
Folk Harp Is Available
Instrument donor Jan Obrien is providing this Dusty Strings folk harp to one of our participating public school districts. She says it's in excellent condition, "just needs some strings and tuning." We have every instrument professionally inspected and repaired, if possible, before delivering anything to a school district. First come / first served! Many thanks, Jan.
Total Instruments Delivered Music4Life™ has made a significant increase in the number and value of instruments delivered to its 11 participating public school districts since our last report. As of this writing, we have delivered 280 donated and repaired full-sized musical instruments to our school districts (an increase from the 159 instruments previously reported). For use by students of income-qualified families, the "fair market value" of these 280 instruments and related materials is $129,832. All instrument values are according to our independent third-party vendor-experts. Just one sign that we may be emerging from the pandemic, these instruments provided in just 10 months represent a 17 percent increase of all instruments delivered during the entire previous year.
2021 "Blues 'n Brews Festival" Returns Even a pandemic can't keep the Des Moines / Normandy Park Rotary Club down as the annual "Poverty Bay Blues 'n Brews Festival" returns on August 28th. The Saturday event features four stellar blues bands and lots of local craft beers, wine and all the food you can possibly eat at the Des Moines Beach Park starting at noon (ends at 8 pm). It's always a real happening! Advance tickets can be purchased online at https://www.DrinkToMusic.org. Highline Music4Life is a primary beneficiary of this event. Adults only, of course.
Ukuleles to Highline Public Schools One reason for this rather astonishing increase is the donation of 60 ukuleles to the Highline School District. Two Highline middle school teachers each have received 30 ukuleles for their classes beginning this fall. They are the gift of the Yamane Family Foundation and an example of how Music4Life can purchase new instruments for school districts when a donor wishes to fund them. Otherwise, we are nearly completely dependent on the instruments that people have in their garages, attics or closets and decide to put back into play. We're very grateful to both types on donations. You'll be hearing more about the Highline ukuleles in a few months.
Directed Donations Are Now Possible
One improvement in our Website is that it's now possible to direct your instrument or financial donation to the public school district of your choice. So if you live and work in Shoreline but attended school in Auburn, you can more easily direct your donation as you wish. Our First Rule is to honor the donor’s wishes. This means you can donate to any of our eleven participating public school district programs or to the Music4Life parent organization "for use wherever there's the greatest need," just as you wish.
Lamar Advertising Renews Sponsorship
Music4Life
has had a long relationship with
Lamar Advertising
(the billboard company) and its predecessors in the Seattle-Tacoma area,
Clear Channel and Ackerley Communications. Lamar recently renewed its
sponsorship by providing space-available billboards to support the
promotional efforts of local events, such as the August 28th "Blues 'n
Brews Festival" in
Des Moines. Lamar General Manager in the Seattle office Brendon Smith says other billboards may be available to support other events from which Music4Life benefits. Many thanks to Lamar and Brendon!
Folk Harp Is Available
Instrument donor Jan Obrien is providing this Dusty Strings folk harp to one of our participating public school districts. She says it's in excellent condition, "just needs some strings and tuning." We have every instrument professionally inspected and repaired, if possible, before delivering anything to a school district. First come / first served! Many thanks, Jan.
SO-O-O Many Copy-Cats!
Imitation is the highest form of flattery, or so they say. We started Music4Life in 2007, which included the creation of the name. Since then, apparently, many others have thought to themselves, "what a clever name!" The usual confusion is with "Music for Life" (one is a religious organization and another is a piano instructor). There’s a "Music4Life" now that's a music school. There's a dot-com that has developed an evidence-based mood formula with foundations in neuroscience, psychology and music therapy principles. And others too numerous to mention. We didn't have a lot of financial resources at the beginning, so we couldn't buy all the other names that might be conflicting, including the dot-com's and dot-biz's, etc. The point is that there is only one non-profit organization named "www.Music4Life.org" It's a registered trademark that cannot be copied. So, if you want to find us on the Internet, for whatever reason, please be sure to enter the right URL.
Gifts in Memory of (friends)
Donations honoring the service or memory of individuals you know may be made online or by credit card. Any size donation is welcome.
A gift in memory of David Ramsett, Ph.D, has been made by his wife Maureen Ramsett of The Villages, Florida.
A gift in memory of David Ramsett, Ph.D, has been made by Marla Rude Knabel of The Villages, Florida.
Total Instruments Delivered As we pass the mid-year point, Music4Life™ reports second quarter (December, January & February) results to its 11 booster club chapters with the delivery of 159 donated and repaired full-sized musical instruments to participating public school districts. For use by student's income-qualified families, the "fair market value" of these 159 instruments and related materials is $71,085. All instrument values are according to our independent third-party vendor-experts.
What "Ready-to-Play" Means
The PROMISE of Music4Life is to provide a ready-to-play musical instruments to participating public school districts. What "ready-to-play" means is a musical instrument that’s been repaired and that a student can pick-up and immediately begin playing. Can you imagine the disappointment if a student is provided a musical instrument and it’s NOT ready to be played? A trumpet without a mouthpiece is not ready-to-play. We provide mouthpieces when needed. A violin without a bow is not ready-to-play. We provide bows when needed. We also provide a serviceable case for every musical instrument. They may not always be pretty, but they do work. Our vendors are rightfully proud of their work and want to know whenever an instrument is not ready-to-play.
Music4Life Receives Largest Financial Donation EVER In January Music4Life.org received the largest financial donation ever received from any public or private entity. The contribution of $20,000 was from the Kazuo & Mary Yamane Family Foundation, a Music4Life donor in other recent years. It is unrestricted, meaning that it is not intended to be dedicated to any one of our 11 participating Music4Life booster club chapters, but is already benefiting them all. For fairness, Music4Life uses unrestricted financial donations to repair instruments in proportion to the relative financial donations raised by each of the 11 booster club chapters. Needless to say, the entire Governing Board of Music4Life is enormously grateful to the Yamane Foundation.
Online Access for Families In-Need How do students of families in-need participate in instrumental music activities during a pandemic-environment? Different public school districts do this differently, of course. During the entire year, we've been emphasizing that students be encouraged to practice their instruments every day so none of them falls behind. Highline Public Schools reports a collaboration with King County that provides cable connectivity and "hotspots" for use by families in-need. Other school districts report the use of online programs such as SmartMusic that allow for live student-teacher interaction for player development. Practice may not make perfect in this case, but it sure helps keep kids interested.
Common Misperception about M4L There's a common misperception that Music4Life is owned by Rotary. That's not correct. Music4Life is an independent non-profit organization officially recognized by the IRS. What IS true is that Music4Life has been endorsed by many Rotary clubs, and is endorsed by the Rotary District 5030 of 47 clubs (four consecutive three-year renewals actually). But just as we can be endorsed by Rotary clubs, we also can be endorsed by other non-profit organizations, such as Lions, Kiwanis, Eagles, Elks and other community service organizations. Please see our history if you're interested in more details.
Thanks to 4Culture
4Culture (formerly the Seattle-King County Arts Commission) has once again continued its financial support of Music4Life in King County with an annual sustaining grant of $2,750. 4Culture provides financial support for the arts, for heritage and preservation activities, public art and galleries and numerous others. Very nearly just as important as the financial support is the official endorsement provided by this innovative program of King County. Many thanks, 4Culture!
OneHope Wines Extended to May 31st
The OneHope Wine Foundation provides ten percent of qualified
online purchases (excluding taxes and shipping, for instance) to all Music4Life chapters. Purchase deadlines have just been extended to May 31st. Benefits are booster club specific. So contact David@Music4Life.org for details to benefit your booster club chapter.
Rotary Golf Tournaments Set Two Rotary District golf tournaments are being planned. The first will be on May 17th at the Harbour Point Golf Course. The second will be on the afternoon of June 28th at the Golf Club of Newcastle. Proceeds will benefit the four official Rotary District 5030 Projects, one of which is Music4Life.
New M4L Domain Is Available As we work to update all pages of the Music4Life Website, it's a good time to announce that the Music4Life.org domain is now available for e-mail addresses to all chapter members and others active in M4L. If you would like to opt-in to this service, the formula for new Music4Life e-addresses is (first name)-dot-(last name)@Music4Life.org. Please feel welcome to show your support for Music4Life.org and request addition to our list.
Gifts in Memory of (friends) Donations honoring the service or memory of individuals you know may be made online or by credit card. Any size donation is welcome.
Krystal Gannaway of Laguna Niguel, California has made a substantial financial donation in memory of her husband, Gary R. Gannaway, former President/CEO of First Choice Health. Krystal is also donating Gary's banjo that he received as a youth from his parents.
Tim Hevly of the Seattle Mariners has made a financial donation in memory of his father, Bill Hevly, of the University of Washington.
Mary MacKenzie has made a financial donation in memory of Tyler Merrill.
Total Instruments Delivered Music4Life™ has reported first quarter (Sept. thru Nov.) results to its booster clubs with the delivery of 91 donated and repaired full-sized musical instruments to participating public school districts. For use by students qualifying for free or reduced cost school meals, the "fair market value" of these 91 instruments and related materials is $29,925. All instrument values are according to our independent third-party vendor-experts.
Final Results Are In for 2019-20 September 2019 started out with a bang with the kids returning to school, musical instrument repair shops humming (Editor: Is that what repair shops do when they're busy?) and Music4Life getting ready to burst through the record number of delivered instruments set just the year before. Six months later we were well on our way, having delivered 223 musical instruments valued at $148,434. And then the pandemic hit! Schools closed, as did instrument repair shops and most of the rest of the U.S. economy. It was to remain that way largely until August when repair shops started reopening and we started getting a handle on "virtual learning." Music4Life finished its year delivering 240 ready-to-play musical instruments and supplies valued at $157,099 or 99.9 percent of the previous year. As you see above, we're off to another great year, "God willing and the creek don’t rise," as Tennessee Ernie Ford used to say.
Riverview Becomes 11th Music4Life Program
Dr. Anthony Smith
Riverview Superintendent
Proving that you don't have to be a big public school district to participate, the Music4Life Governing Board approved in December the addition of the Riverview School District as its 11th program. Riverview serves students from the Duvall / Carnation area. Superintendent Anthony Smith says, "As a former music teacher and professional musician, I am especially excited to be accepted as Music4Life's eleventh school district program. This aligns with the Equity, Access, Inclusion lens we are using for everything we do as a public school system." Welcome aboard, Riverview!
Expanding Our Reach to All Band / Orchestra Teachers One of our biggest nightmares is the mother or father of a family in-need who doesn't even consider getting a musical instrument for their student because they can't afford it. In today's economy, many families cannot even afford to rent a musical instrument! This is precisely why Music4Life was started in 2007: To serve students of families in-need. Some of these families may not even know that Music4Life exists! We are trying to fix that. One way is to work with our 11 public school district representatives on an outreach effort to communicate with eligible families that we're here and may be able to help them. So we are asking our instrumental music teachers to help. One way is through Quarter Notes. Anyone is welcome to sign-up to get this e-newsletter -- or forward it. Join us, won't you?
Windermere Renews for 2020-21
Last year six of the Seattle-area Windermere offices owned by Jill Wood conducted a campaign that resulted in about three dozen musical instruments and financial support donated to Music4Life.
Jill recently said she was so excited about the program that she wants to expand it to all western Washington Windermere offices serving Music4Life school districts. What better time to connect with possible instrument donors than when they're moving and see that long-neglected trumpet, clarinet or violin that's been in-hiding. Details are being worked out with Jill's Windermere staff, but be on the lookout for a public unveiling in the spring or early summer. Many thanks to Jill Wood and Windermere!
Welcome to Cathy Thompson
Cathy Thompson
Des Moines-area community activist Cathy Thompson is the new president of the Highline Music4Life Booster Club. She succeeds predecessors Catherine Carbone Rogers of Highline Public Schools and real estate analyst Steve Swank, both former presidents of the Des Moines Rotary Club. Cathy has been a band parent (her e-address starts with "bandmama...) and a prominent community activist with numerous organizations for years. "I am excited to be a part of this effort," she says. Welcome aboard, Cathy! And many thanks to Catherine Carbone Rogers (who continues on the Highline booster club) and Steve Swank.
SmartMusic Helps Teachers to Teach One question we increasingly get is, "Why should we support Music4Life when students can't even get together in bands or orchestras to practice their music?" First, it is critically important that students practice their instruments every day so they can maintain their skills. Second, there now are digital programs such as SmartMusic that allow teachers to work with students to improve their playing skills. In other words, "music teaching." Until in-person teaching becomes available again, SmartMusic and similar digital programs allow teachers to evaluate, critique and otherwise help student performance in a live setting. It will probably be one of those virtual tools we’ll continue using even after we get back to what "normality" means.
Harp Is Available
This 17-year-old 50-inch Celtic harp, made by Thormahlen in Corvalis, is being donated to Music4Life by long-time friend Gary Christianson, formerly of KIRO TV. The harp has 36 strings, all with levers. If your school district can use it, let us know. Otherwise, we'll sell it and use the proceeds to repair our usual musical instruments, each of which on-average costs $125 to fix.
Speaker's Bureau Program Started Our outreach effort now includes a Music4Life Speaker's Bureau program. Comprised of former Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling (he started the instrumental music program at Shoreline Community College years ago), former KING TV on-air host Cliff Lenz (he co-hosted "Seattle Todaya" for 17 years), and Music4Life Co-Founder David Endicott (a VERY checkered past!), the three are available for speaking to community service groups, chambers of commerce, private and non-profit businesses and others. Contact us here.
Booster Club Feature: Shoreline The Music4Life booster club supporting Shoreline Public Schools was the third of our public school district-based Programs. This booster club has been responsible for bringing more than 125 full-sized musical instruments and other musical equipment to students attending Shoreline Public Schools. Retired Shorecrest band director Ken Noreen leads the group as president. Other members of the Shoreline Music4Life Booster Club include (by last-name alpha) community activists Lynn Evans and Renee Hart; Ellen Kaje and Hanna Mazur of Shoreline Public Schools; former Shoreline School Board member Dick Nicholson; Shoreline instrumental music teacher Nick Novy; Leann Rozema, the Superintendent's long-serving representative to the booster club;Greg Schroeder of Lake Forest Park Rotary;Maria Stevens of Shoreline Public Schools; and Nick Wade of Shoreline Public Schools. Others are welcome to join us. MANY THANKS to all our Shoreline booster club friends!
While we're thinking of it, many thanks to retiring Shoreline Schools Superintendent Rebecca Miner for her unwavering support and encouragement of Shoreline Music4Life, as well as to her trusty sidekick Kathie Schindler, Executive Assistant, who's (thankfully) not retiring.
SEATTLE, Washington Music4Life today reports delivering nearly as many musical instruments in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 school year when compared with its previous 12-month period. The western Washington-based non-profit delivered musical instruments worth $157,099 in 2019-20 compared with $157,221 of instruments delivered in 2018-19 to ten participating public school districts. Each musical instrument receives a fair market value after repairs are completed as determined by independent vendor-experts.
Music4Life is a non-profit that provides donated and repaired musical instruments at no charge to ten local public school districts so all students may participate in school-based instrumental music activities. Music4Life mainly benefits students participating in free or reduced lunch programs.
“This really is an astonishing accomplishment,” says Music4Life Co-Founder and Chairman/CEO David Endicott, “especially when you realize that we basically did in just six months what had taken us the entire previous 12 months to do.” The program delivered 240 ready-to-play musical instruments to Auburn, Bremerton, Edmonds, Everett, Highline, Kent, Marysville, Northshore, Seattle and Shoreline Public Schools. Each instrument has a remaining useful life of three-to-15 years, meaning that multiple students may benefit from its use.
Research shows that students who participate in school instrumental music activities do better in math, science, history, literature, international languages, reading and writing, even in computer science, in addition to what it teaches in terms of teamwork and self-discipline. Not all children want to participate in instrumental music activities, of course. “But for those who do and whose families cannot afford a musical instrument,” Endicott says, “they are effectively barred from getting the full basic education guaranteed to them by the Washington State Constitution. And the sad fact is that, in today’s pandemic economy, many families cannot even afford to rent a musical instrument. So Music4Life is just as much an equal opportunity program as it is an instrumental music program.”
Ready-to-play musical instruments are provided to these school districts for use by students in any musical activity they choose, as long as they stay enrolled in that public school district. “We figure that the more they use them, the better they’ll get,” Endicott says. “If they leave the school district for any reason, such as graduation or the family moves, the instrument needs to be returned to the school district so another student can benefit from its use.”
“Local enthusiasts who share our values of service to ‘kids,’ ‘instrumental music’ or ‘education’ are welcome to join us,” Endicott says.
Total Instruments Delivered Music4Life™ has started its new fiscal year (begins each Sept. 1st) with the delivery of 34 donated and repaired full-sized musical instruments to participating public school districts. For use by students qualifying for free or reduced cost school meals, the “fair market value” of these 34 instruments and related materials is $12,075. All instrument values are according to our independent third-party vendor-experts.
Kent Program Gets Instrument Bonanza
Not yet counted among the report above are the 51 musical instruments donated to the Kent Music4Life program in late October, all from donor Jim Renton. Jim recently closed M-Power and donated its remaining instruments to our Kent booster club. Shepherded by Kent President Linda Mackintosh of Coldwell Banker Bain, the instruments include violins, cellos, guitars, flutes, clarinets, saxes, trumpets, a French horn and other instruments that are being evaluated for repairability right now. Many thanks to Jim and congrat's to the Kent booster club team.
Kids Need to Keep Playing How do students get the musical instruments when the schools aren't open? That's a question we often get. Our music teachers tell us they still get the instruments to kids through direct delivery, leaving them for pick-up at designated times and other means. Here's the most important thing to remember: A student needs to keep practicing his or her musical instrument as often as possible so they keep their music skills sharp. A layoff of even a few days can be noticeable quickly. Pretty soon the student loses interest or moves on to other things. That's why we keep pumping newly repaired instruments into the system.
COVID-Care Available for Instruments One concern now being expressed is the question of how musical instruments, especially wind instruments, are cleaned of COVID germs.
Billy Kennelly, owner of Kennelly Keys Music, tells us that "All instruments turned in, street buys, rentals and Music4Life instruments sit in quarantine for at least a week. Then during the processing stage, all instruments are cleaned and sanitized. We ... invested in large ultrasonic cleaning systems."
Ted Brown Music President Whitney Brown Grisaffi says this includes "Spraying instrument cases, handles, and latches with an 80% alcohol solution when both picking up an instrument and dropping it off to the school; (s)anitizing hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately before entering the school; (w)earing a mask while in the building or communicating face to face with music educators or school officials; (and a)ssisting directors by offering guidance on how to properly store and disinfect instruments. ... Our repair techs are wearing masks and gloves and summer repairs will be quarantined again after work is complete and returned to your schools."
Deric Dobesh of Bigfoot Music in Arlington agrees and says "With basic repairs we sanitize all cases before they are taken to the shop. Once at the shop our tech(nician) is only allowing one instrument out of the case and on the bench at a time. All instruments are wiped down with sanitizer before and after being serviced. Our tech wears gloves, mask and a face shield while any instrument is on the bench. Gloves are never reused on a second instrument. Repair bench and tools are wiped down with sanitizer after every repair is completed."
What "Ready-to-Play" Means Every year our school district representatives are reminded of "The PROMISE of Music4Life." We guarantee that every instrument delivered to them is ready-to-play and in a serviceable case. A horn without a mouthpiece is not ready-to-play: We buy one for it. A violin without a bow is not ready-to-play: We buy one for it. This makes the instrument ready-to-play NOW! Sure, sometimes an instrument will slip through that’s not ready-to-play for some reason. Whenever this happens, we ask that the music teacher immediately report it to the Music4Life CEO and we’ll make it right. Also our vendors take great pride in their work and want to guard their reputations.
OneHope Wines Continue into December
The OneHope Wine fund raising opportunities for all school district-based programs have been continued into early December. This is part of our year-long effort to raise funds for each program so that musical instruments for kids in-need can be repaired. The Napa Valley winery that was built on hope and rooted in purpose about a dozen years ago to help local and national non-profit causes to deliver on their promises. In the process, the OneHope Wine Foundation has delivered more than $5 million to worthy non-profits. Ten percent of qualified wine purchases at OneHope are delivered to the Music4Life booster club of your choice. Wines are ordered and paid for online and then delivered right to your door, a real convenience during these quarantine times. (NOTE: An adult must be available to sign for the delivered wines.) Tell your friends who might also be willing to support Music4Life while drinking some of the world's best wine.
Edmonds Program Continues to Build
Joining former Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling on the Edmonds booster club are Admiral Bill Center, US Navy Ret. and 2006-07 President of Seattle Downtown Rotary, as well as 2016-17 Edmonds Daybreakers Rotary president Chris Lindberg and Edmonds Community College Dean of Student Recruitment Steve Woodard. Other local enthusiasts who share our values of "kids," "instrumental music" or "education" are welcome to serve on the Edmonds booster club, too (click here).
Booster Club Feature: Everett The Music4Life booster club supporting Everett Public Schools is another of our public school district-based Programs. This booster club has been responsible for bringing more than 200 full-sized musical instruments and other musical equipment to students attending Everett Public Schools. Jane Webber leads the group as president. Other members of the Everett Music4Life Booster Club include (by last-name alpha) Carmen Boggs; instrumentalist Rick Bowen of the Washington Blues Society; music teacher Emily Cheever; community activist Lois Craig; Georgia Lindquist (recently retired from Everett Public Schools); Kalle Spear, Assistant Principal at Gateway Middle School; Dr. Mark Valentine of Everett Rotary; Carol Wheeler, another long-time community activist; Nicole Whiteley, the Superintendent's representative to the booster club; composer/lyricist Mark Wilder who doubles as Managing Partner of Wilder2.com; and Jeanne Willard of Everett Public Schools. Others are welcome to join us. MANY THANKS to all our Everett booster club friends!
Gifts in Memory of (friends) Donations honoring the service or memory of individuals you know may be made online or by credit card. Any size donation is welcome.
