Do you remember your first music teacher or your first music classes in school? I certainly do!
My middle school band director sat in his office week after week and smoked cigarettes while us students played scales, creating musical mayhem. Fortunately there was more structure in high school and I was lucky to play in orchestra, wind ensemble and jazz band. I will never forget playing a Hayden symphony on the school string bass that was made out of aluminum (or some type of metal). Somehow, those experiences launched me into a joyful career as a professional musician.
Budget cuts targeting arts education have made schools quieter since I was a kid. This loss feels particularly frustrating at a time when the federal government is directing billions toward an unapproved conflict with Iran. However, musicians and our union are ever resourceful in finding ways to bring joy and nurture the next generation of musicians.
A huge bright spot is the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) program initiated by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2007. This El Sistema-based program provides students aged 6 -18 with free instruments and instruction by outstanding LA based teaching artists. Along with proficiency in the orchestral repertoire, the program centers on life skills such as collaboration, responsibility, teamwork, communication and expression.
It is heartening to see that the YOLA Teaching Artists, a group including many current Local 47 members, have successfully organized and are presently in negotiations for their first contract. We extend a warm welcome and heartfelt congratulations to these musicians as they join our union family. Their dedication to nurturing the next generation of musicians is essential for the future of society.
Local 47 members are busy throughout the school year bringing live music into schools with the help of the Music Performance Trust Fund. The MPTF was started in 1948 and is funded with a royalty stream from the signatory record labels. Year after year the Fund presents thousands of live performances throughout the United States and Canada. While many of us have played trust fund gigs, far fewer of us have applied for grants through the Fund. For more information about how to apply, see the MPTF ToolKit in this issue or visit the MPTF website. https://musicpf.org/
Kudos to so many of you for devoting your energies to instruction, from private lesson studios to the classrooms of our schools and colleges. Instruction and mentoring is life changing for kids who may have had no exposure to professional musicians. Your commitment to teaching is truly making a lasting impact on musicians and audience members of the future!