MMP's Story

When I was 5 years old, my parents signed me up for cello lessons at a local music school, and the next thing I knew I was attending some of the best music schools and playing concerts for audiences all over the world. I would not be who I am today without the musical opportunities I had as a child. I therefore know how important it is to give young children access to music education.

Unfortunately, in Montgomery, Alabama, there are very few opportunities for kids to play stringed instruments. There are almost no strings in the schools and no local music school. As a result, very few kids in town play instruments, and the rest probably have never seen a violin in their lives (and definitely don't know what a cello is!)

To combat this problem, I am starting the Montgomery Music Project (MMP), whose mission is to give affordable, high-quality music instruction to elementary kids throughout Montgomery County. MMP will send great teachers into elementary schools to offer on-site instruction in violin, viola, cello, general music, and more. The students will all come together on the weekend for further instruction. High school students will serve as mentors for the kids throughout their musical journeys. I hope the project will start at the beginning of this school year and continue ad infinitum!

To make the program affordable for all participating families, MMP will provide instruments and supplies to all the kids. I hope to use Indiegogo to raise money for these supplies. $9,000 will give us enough to buy and repair 40 instruments - enough for a full string orchestra.

The Impact

MMP will give children all of the benefits of playing an instrument, from the educational advantages to the gift of expressing ones self through music and the empowerment and confidence that come with playing an instrument. MMP will also create huge awareness for music all over Montgomery. In addition, it will secure the survival of the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, a community orchestra whose existence depends on local musicians. My goal is to start the program with 40 kids and grow from there. If this project does not exist, there will continue to be almost no opportunities for kids to learn to play instruments and a high chance that the Montgomery Symphony will not survive.

What We Need

The number of children we reach depends on the number of instruments we have. More instruments = more participating children! Our goal is to raise $9,000, which will enable us to buy and repair 40 stringed instruments.

What You Get

See the perks to the right of this message for the great rewards you will receive if you give!

Other Ways You Can Help

1) Give an in-kind donation such as an instrument, bow, case, music stand, rosin, strings, or violin sponge.

2) Announce this project on your Facebook account!

3) Forward this page to people in your address book.

4) Stay in touch with MMP!