Our thriving partnerships with Fitchburg, Lawrence, Lowell, and Clinton public schools provide free band, string, percussion, and electronic music programs to students who might not otherwise have the chance to learn to play or experience music. Our after-school program at the Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster features year-round bucket drumming and ukulele classes.
Public School & Community Partnerships
Boys & Girls Clubs of Fitchburg and Leominster, and Gardner
Since 2019, we have provided year-round ukulele classes for approximately 30 kids and teens per year at the clubs, where they strengthen their music offerings as a part of their STEAM curriculum. The ukulele lends itself beautifully to an introduction to music, because the instruments are inexpensive and portable, easy to learn, and fun to play in groups. In 2021, we introduced bucket drumming and added classes at the Gardner BGC.
Our partnership programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fitchburg, Leominster, and Gardner are made possible through the generous support of the following Local Cultural Councils, funded by Massachusetts Cultural Council: Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster.
Clinton Public Schools
We have provided professional instruction to the percussion, brass, and woodwind sections of the Clinton High School band since 2019 in preparation for their spring concert, and added weekly instruction to Clinton Middle School students in 2022.
Fitchburg Public Schools
In response to their need for a school band program, we partnered with the McKay Arts Academy in Fitchburg in 2017 to provide free robust instrument and band instruction to sixty eager students in grades 5 – 7 each week during the school day. We provided group lessons in trumpet, trombone, flute, saxophone, clarinet, and percussion. In 2021, the success of the program allowed for expanded funding for a full-time school music teacher to take over the program.In 2019, we began serving the two other Fitchburg middle schools (Memorial and Longsjo) by providing weekly lessons to their violin students.
Lawrence Public Schools
Since 2018, we have been providing band sectionals in woodwinds and brass to raise student proficiency and prepare for concerts at Lawrence High School. During the COVID pandemic, we provided remote beat-making and electronic music classes. We also offer weekly music production and bucket drumming classes, and have provided vocal coaching, at Guilmette Middle School. Future plans involve starting band programs in Lawrence middle schools.
Lowell Public Schools
Our new percussion program at Sullivan Middle School in Lowell began in January 2022. We plan to expand this program moving forward, and will also offer year-long band sectional coaching for middle school students throughout the district.
