Verona, NJ –– Music Will, the leading non-profit provider of free music lessons, instruments and teacher training to U.S. public schools, and Ear Candy Charity, an Arizona-based non-profit that also provides youth access to music education through online instrument drives, today announced that they will be joining forces. Music Will will absorb Ear Candy Charity and implement its Online Instrument Drive platform, which will empower members of the public to donate directly to Music Will’s 1,000+ trained teachers and choose who they’d like to support. In addition, Ear Candy Charity’s founder, Nate Anderson, will join Music Will’s staff as the West Coast Director.
“Music Will is so excited to take the next step in this musical journey with Nate and Ear Candy’s Online Instrument Drive platform,” says David Wish, founder and executive director of Music Will. “The marriage of these two charities will result in many more children receiving the lifelong gift of music, as well as many more teachers receiving the instruments, curriculum and tools they need to better serve their kids.”
Founded by former first grade schoolteacher David Wish, Music Will has grown from a single, after-school music class, to a nationwide movement of public school teachers who are helping to transform kids’ lives by giving them access to “Modern Band” music classes in their schools. “Modern Band” classes focus on teaching kids to perform, improvise and compose songs in the musical genres they know and love, like rock, reggae, hip-hop and R&B. Music Will also donates brand-new instruments like guitars, keyboards, basses and drums to support schools’ “Modern Band” programs. Music Will’s programming and resources, which are free for public schools enrolled in the program, have impacted the lives of nearly 250,000 public school children in more than 25 major public school districts across the United States.
Ear Candy Charity has successfully impacted more than 60,000 under-served youth by placing musical instruments with schools and after-school programs with its Online Instrument Drive. The Online Instrument Drives connect music teachers with instrument and financial donors to place high quality instruments in the hands of their students. Anderson sought to expand the system’s offering to reach more children outside of Arizona through an established national partner, and found Music Will. They will launch a new Music Will chapter in Arizona in 2014.
The next chapter of Ear Candy is an exciting one, as we combine with Music Will,” says Ear Candy founder, Nate Anderson. “We are leveraging our success in Arizona to help hundreds of thousands of children across the country gain the access to music education they deserve. My vision for Ear Candy was to grow the organization to make a national impact, and this merger makes this dream a reality.”
Ear Candy Charity supporters can still support Music Will’s efforts to fulfill the mission of transforming children’s lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in public schools. Visit musicwill.org to make a donation or get involved.
To inquire about joining a fundraising council in Arizona , Los Angeles, or the San Francisco Bay Area, please contact Nate Anderson at [email protected].
About Music Will
Music Will is a national nonprofit that transforms children’s lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in disadvantaged public schools. The organization partners with school districts to train public school teachers in their innovative curriculum while donating all of the instruments and resources necessary to run rockin’ music programs that focus on teaching kids to perform, improvise and compose the musical genres that they love. To date, Music Will has reached nearly 250,000 students. More info at musicwill.org
About Ear Candy Charity:
Ear Candy Charity was an Arizona based non-profit stared by Nate Anderson in 2007 and was absorbed by Music Will in 2013. The organization was dedicated to fulfilling its mission of Providing Youth Access to Music Education. Ear Candy impacted over 60,000 annually through its Instrument Drive® efforts which placed donated instruments in low-income music programs.
