Spotlight On

Mission:
The MusicLink Foundation seeks to bring the opportunity of long-term musical training to promising children in financial need and recognize the importance of musical achievement in thriving teenage musicians. The foundation works with schools and members of professional music teaching organizations, professional musicians, community music schools, colleges and universities, music dealers and corporations to provide ongoing instruction, instruments, and support to nurture the musical growth of our youth. Each MusicLink program reflects the unique needs of the community it serves, bringing music into the homes of families of our special MusicLink students.

Background:
MusicLink began in 1992 as a program of the Virginia Music Teachers Association, seeking a way to offer private instruction to a wider spectrum of students, specifically seeking out students who normally could not afford lessons. MusicLink initially worked with schools in the DC metropolitan area, asking school music teachers to nominate promising students on the free or reduced lunch program who could benefit from private music instruction. MusicLink then "linked" them to professional music teachers or musicians located in their community who volunteered to teach on partial to full scholarship.

After six successful years spreading the program throughout Virginia, it expanded to the national level in 1998 through support from the Music Teachers National Association Foundation. In September, 2001 the program was restructured into the MusicLink Foundation to provide more freedom to seek funding for the specific needs of the program and expand possibilities beyond a single professional music organization. Over the past decade, MusicLink teachers have provided over 70,000 hours of music instruction, to 1,400 students in over 40 states, equivalent to over $1.4 million of scholarship donation. Teachers in the greater DC area provide almost one-third of this national total of service to the program. The Foundation builds alliances with music organizations, businesses and corporate partners to assist in acquiring music and instruments for students.

Current Programs:
The MusicLink Foundation supports two programs:

• LessonLink

  The LessonLink program seeks out promising students through schools and youth organizations and links these students with professional teachers who share music with the child for as long as the child wishes to learn. This simple long-lasting teacher-student link results in students who are prepared to face life through achieved study skills, self motivation, and a sense of pride and confidence in their accomplishments.

• StudyLink

  The StudyLink program recognizes the need to provide challenging curricular options for high school students who are pursuing advanced musical study. StudyLink offers an organizational framework for an independent study combining private music instruction with student interests and school requirements.

Funding Needs:
The MusicLink Foundation seeks funding to establish a MusicLink program within Washington DC, having successfully worked with schools and organizations in the surrounding metropolitan area. Estimated funding of $5,000 -$7,500 is needed for training, instruments, administrative and teacher travel costs to effectively place MusicLink into the schools and homes of promising DC youth.

The "Spotlight On" highlights the activities of a different 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving the Metropolitan Washington, DC community. The selection of organizations for the "Spotlight On" is based on criteria such as programmatic interests, geographic focus, and size, to ensure the broadest possible representation of the region's nonprofit sector.

If you'd like to see your NPO in the "Spotlight," e-mail a description of your organization, following the above format, to dclibrary@foundationcenter.org, with "Spotlight Submission" in the subject line.