Janet D'Addario, Jim D'Addario, Suzanne D'Addario and Anne Fitzgibbon

JAN. 15 I D'ADDARIO I COMMUNITY
D'Addario Offers Free Musical Lessons to Children

The James D’Addario Family Foundation, the D’Addario Foundation, and the Harmony Program nonprofit organizations recently teamed up to provide underserved Long Island, N.Y., third-graders with free musical instruments and an intensive after-school music program.

“I want this program to become a model for our industry,” said James D’Addario, CEO of D’Addario. “Once we show how well our program works, we will begin outreach to involve other companies in our industry and community and inspire the creation of additional local music programs.”

The new after-school program will provide 25 third-graders from Deauville Gardens East and West public elementary schools in Copiague, Long Island, with their instrument of their choice. Music instruction based on the El Sistema model, a method of music education that was first developed in Argentina and is now used in over 25 countries to provide free music education to children.

“One of the hallmarks of the El Sistema model is intensive study,” said Anne Fitzgibbon, executive director of the Harmony Program, the music-education-based nonprofit administering the after-school program. “El Sistema has shown us that when music-making is incorporated into children's lives on a regular basis, [they] not only develop strong musical skills but other important skills as well, such as listening, collaborating, self-expression, and concentration.”

In addition to instruments and intensive study, each student will receive special access to concerts, cultural events, and coaching from accomplished professional musicians.

The James D’Addario Family Foundation is providing the funding for the majority of the program’s needs, including funding for musical instruments and supplies, and for instructors’ and directors’ salaries.

daddario.com