Music National Service Launches MusicianCorps
The civic value of music in America is far greater than entertainment alone. Music can help youth to develop "the imagination to create," as well as discipline, perseverance, teamwork and other critical skills needed to succeed in the 21st Century.
Music National Service (MNS) is a nonprofit enterprise that recently launched MusicianCorps, a domestic "musical Peace Corps," in four cities. MusicianCorps recruits, trains and places talented musicians in under-resourced schools, low-income communities and health care settings for a year of "music public service." Our goal is to promote service through the arts, strengthen 21st century skills and bring diverse communities together through music.
The inaugural class of MusicianCorps Fellows has now completed National Training Camp and is deployed throughout the country. David and Rebecca in New Orleans are introducing new music programming in public elementary schools. Meagan, a certified music therapist, is bringing music education and engagement to children, veterans and seniors at University of California, San Francisco and other hospitals in the Bay Area. Carla, a certified music instructor, and Aaron in Seattle, as well as Jason in Chicago and Samuel in Oakland are providing instrumental instruction, digital production and arts integration programs to neighborhood youth.
In exchange for their full-time service commitment, MusicianCorps Fellows receive a modest living stipend, professional development and health care.
MNS is building a national model, not only for music-driven service, but also to pilot the expansive Artist Corps idea championed by President Obama and others during the 2008 campaign. The MusicianCorps model is replicable across all arts disciplines and will expand best practices in the field of arts-driven service. The Aspen Institute named MNS "1 of 10 policy innovations that will strengthen American communities" and Congressional supporters of MNS, like NY Congressman Joe Crowley, galvanized bipartisan leadership for a "Musician and Artists Corps" amendment in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. You can help to by signing the Artist Corps Petition.
Everyone can serve. Everyone deserves music.
