Established in 1948, the Music Performance Fund (“MPTF”) has been vital to “making music a part of every child’s life experience.” Below are some of the ways MPTF touches the lives of kids here in the LA area, as told by music organizations in their own words.

In the spirit of Sharing September, I’d like to share with you how I try to approach each week in service to you, our members and our musical community.

There are so many different areas of endeavor that our Local 47 is engaged with and responsible for that keeping track and keeping up, isn’t always easy. We administer (and bargain) over 50 local collective bargaining agreements, responsible for administering and participating in all of our major and minor media agreements, keep up and participate in labor movement, political and legislative worlds, supervise staff and administer the business of Local 47, run the brick and mortar building – it’s a lot.

If you’ve spent any time on the “gig circuit” the endless rotation of clubs, weddings, corporate events, and session work you know the reality. We piece together a living from dozens of different sources, often juggling more hats than a stagehand on opening night. It’s a hustle that defines the Los Angeles music scene. But while the hustle is real, the benefits shouldn’t be a pipe dream.

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.