MAKE MUSIC NOLA: MAKING MORE THAN MUSICIANS, NEW

MAKE MUSIC
NOLA: MAKING
MORE THAN
MUSICIANS, NEW
ORLEANS-STYLE.
On Wednesday, May 18th 2016, I visited one of the most high-profile
music programs in America’s most-high profile music city, New
Orleans. I should have known that today would be special, for each
and every person I passed as I walked down St. Claude Avenue said
hello, asked me how my day was and wished me the best going forward.
This trend continued as I arrived at Make Music NOLA (MMN), an El
Sistema program that the D’Addario Foundation has supported since its
infancy. “The D’Addario Foundation was there for us at the beginning,
and that meant so much,” said Laura Patterson, Executive Director of
Make Music NOLA.
“
One of our students, Tony, was accepted
into a high school that simply wasn’t
right for him. Therefore, we looked into
finding one that was more appropriate.
Not simply on a musical level, but more
accepting of his quirkiness. We found
it, he was accepted, and he’s going
there in the fall.
“
Make Music NOLA was founded in September 2011 at a community
center in the Lower 9th Ward. The program began with just five
students. During that year, MMN’s first students performed with New
Orleans legendary Soul Queen, Irma Thomas. Over the last five years,
Make Music NOLA has expanded to four charter schools and three
community centers, and their programming has grown to reach over
160 students in their string program, which often takes a back seat to
marching band programs which are often associated with New Orleans
and its booming tourism sector. Despite this, all music thrives here, as
every program is not only accepted, but embraced, and it’s because of
the local celebrity musicians- and the community at large- who make it
possible. I mean, we’re talking about a city that shuts down schools for
Jazz Fest because everyone not only attends, but often takes part.
The current curriculum is designed by violinist Matt Rhody and
implemented by Barry Stephenson (Jason Marsalis Quartet, Davell
Crawford), Tucker Fuller (New Resonance Orchestra & the Marigny
Opera House), Nathan Money (Swamp Lilies), and Rebecca Gaillot
(Country Day). In other words, it takes a city of musicians to make a
successful music program. Or at least it does here in New Orleans.
And the best part is that many of these musicians support multiple
music programs, and visit often.
MMN offers instruction for 37 weeks during the year for their
in-school programs and for 33 weeks during the year for their afterschool programs. Students are between 6 and 16 years old, and as all
El Sistema programs, are provided instruments free of charge- though
parents must sign an instrument agreement at the beginning of each
school year. Students attend classes four hours a week throughout the
school year, perform at least four concerts a semester – one of which
I attended- and students self-identify as musicians from an early age.
“We chose a string program not only because there was a need, but
because you can start a child on the violin as early as three, while the
brass instruments required for a marching band aren’t as viable until
later in their childhood,” Laura mentioned.
Make Music NOLA’s long-term goals include keeping their current
students enrolled through high school, increasing performance
opportunities for their students in New Orleans and around the
country, and directing their program to better prepare students for
arts high schools, summer programs, and colleges. Make Music NOLA
also plans to add a year-long leadership and mentoring class for middle
school and high school students to their programming. This is not a
surprise to anyone, for Laura has already transitioned her students from
elementary school to middle school, and is beginning to do so for high
school as well. Since the program is only five years old, there haven’t
been many students transitioning to high school as of yet, but as they
individually reach that milestone, Laura and Make Music NOLA are
there for them. But most importantly, “it goes far beyond music,”
Laura said. “One of our students, Tony, was accepted into a high school
that simply wasn’t right for him. Therefore, we looked into finding
one that was more appropriate. Not simply on a musical level, but
more accepting of his quirkiness. We found it, he was accepted, and
he’s going there in the fall.” This method has been working due to the
limited amount of older students needing such assistance, but as more
kids transition to high school, I wonder if they’ll be able to continue
helping in the same manner. My thought is no, for it is not scalable
or financially viable, but I do know that when they eventually need to
figure it out, they will, and I don’t doubt Laura or Make Music NOLA
for one second.
DADDARIOFOUNDATION.ORG