Help us meet our $40,000 challenge grant!
Your support will help us expand successful programs in NYC and Kenya
Three exciting new programs are launching in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Kenya!
Our newest teaching artist, Sam Bardfeld, is piloting Violin and American Folk Music at the Brooklyn Green School (BGS). Located in the historic Weeksville neighborhood of Brooklyn, BGS is a middle school dedicated to environmental justice with a focus on project and service-based community learning. The violin program will use an approach based on ear training and improvisation. Students will learn to play and sing songs in an ensemble setting, as they simultaneously develop knowledge of the rich history of American folk music.
In the Bronx, Nick Pennington is introducing a ukulele program in collaboration with New Settlement, a non-profit that provides after-school programs to six elementary schools. The third and fourth graders are loving the opportunity to make music together in an ensemble while learning how to play the ukulele.
With WiFi finally available in Kibera, Kenya, Teaching Artist Ruaridh Pattison is currently teaching music literacy and music technology to over fifty students at the FAFU school. Reading music opens the door for our students to continue to learn and grow independently as well as explore new repertory. The music technology class enables them to become producers of their own music.
Because of supporters like you, we were able to provide free instruments for these three programs and more!
Please help us to continue bringing music and community into the lives of children by joining our matching grant campaign. Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar.
Video of the Week
We hope you enjoy this video of Teaching Artist Sam Bardfeld performing with Bruce Springsteen at the New Orlean's Jazzfest in 2006. This performance took place just eight months after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Link to "O Mary Don't You Weep."
Community Member Highlight
We are excited to welcome Sam Bardfeld to the S'Cool Sounds team of teaching artists! Sam is a violinist, composer, and arranger who is a member of The Jazz Passengers and a frequent collaborator with Bruce Springsteen. He also wrote the leading book on Afro-Cuban violin tradition, Latin Violin, and is a violin instructor at The New School in the jazz department.
Sam shares, "I love piloting the new violin program at the Brooklyn Green School (BGS). I've been impressed with the respect with which SCS treats its teaching artists and the creativity with which it approaches its mission. BGS is a great residency partner and the perfect place to start a violin residency that is ensemble-focused and based on the American folk tradition."
Welcome to the team, Sam!