Agency Details:

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit community-based organization, Music in Schools Today (MuST) supports, develops and promotes music education for youth in schools and in the community.

Description:
Since 1983, Music in Schools Today (MuST) has served schools grades K-12 in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are also online to serve students, schools and families everywhere. We touch the lives of roughly 10,000 young people annually with our music and arts programs while serving as a databank of music-related resources and an advocate for music and arts in schools and community centers.

EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS

• Understanding Cultures - We provide classes that improve literacy and social studies through understanding world music, currently featuring Chinese, African, Afro-Caribbean, Filipino, Flamenco and Native American music and movement.
  
  
• Achieving through Music - We offer this unique percussion program as therapeutic intervention to some of our most at-risk youth, documenting how active music making improve student performance.
  
  
• Music Integrated Literacy Enhancement (MILE) - Our newest program, MILE utilizes music and classroom teachers to ensure that all children 1st through 4th grade receive instruction in literacy and math through music. Music teachers will co-teach with classroom teachers sequential music instruction, language literacy and math literacy, preparing students for band and orchestra in the 4th and 5th grade.
  
  
• Meet the Music Pros - We offer master-classes, workshops and internship opportunities to youth who aspire to become professional musicians.
  
  
• Professional workshops - We provide teachers, artists, therapists and counselors with a variety of training workshops and courses in world music and music as therapeutic intervention, with continuing credit from San Francisco State University.
  
  

• Adopt an Instrument - We created this original, year-round instrument donation program. MuST accepts musical instruments from the public and places them in the hands of talented Bay Area school children.
  
  
• Website - We have designed a national forum for young people engaged in music and the arts, as well as one-stop shopping for educators searching for curriculum and arts resources. It showcases students, offers celebrities and other music professionals as mentors, and lists scholarships, music camps and practical tips for young musicians.
  
  
• Advocacy and Free Consulting - We advocate to the general public, business, government and the media that all children receive a comprehensive, sequential music and arts education. We assist in starting or strengthening music and arts programs in schools and community centers.
  
  
• Special Events - We seek to involve and educate the general public about the importance of music education by means of our annual Stars on Staff Celebrity Waiter Luncheon, main stage performances by some of our most famous musicians, smaller grassroots events, and free community workshops and drum circles.



History:
MuST was founded in 1983 by Alden Gilchrist, Music Director at Calvary Presbyterian Church. It originally provided choral programs to San Francisco schools, but in response to increasing need, moved began advocating for and establishing all kinds of school music and arts programs around the Bay Area.
MuST's major programs include:



• Adopt an instrument, started in 1990, supplies musical instruments to Bay Area Schools and centers.
• Special events, began in 1990 to raise public awareness of the need for music and arts education.
• Achieving through Music, begun in 1995 uses therapeutic music intervention to raise student aspirations and develop life skills.
• Understanding Cultures, begun in 1999, teaches other core curricula through world music.
• Artist/teacher training, offered since 1990, includes continuing credit from San Francisco State University. Educators may learn about music therapy, how to integrate curricula and how to teach basic music classes.
• Music mentors, begun in 2002, provides students with information about the music business, and includes web-based advice and workshops series at Yoshi's in Oakland and Club Jazz Nouveau in San Francisco.
• The MuST Youth Pops Orchestra, organized by band leader Dick Bright in 2003, performs at large-scale community events.
  
  
In addition, since 1994, MuST has worked to raise public awareness of the critical need for music and arts education through media and advocacy campaigns. MuST offers assistance to parents, teachers, bands, schools and school districts in starting or strengthening music and arts programs. MuST has successfully advocated to save music and arts programs and/or to engage in long range planning to ensure their future in Alameda, Berkeley, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Emeryville, Fremont, Marin, Oakland and San Francisco.



Contact people:


Laura Reynolds, Office Manager, (phone), (email) Mary Destri, Website Manager, (email) Meg Madden, Executive Director


Main office number: (415) 392-9010
Office fax number: (415) 392-9104

Address:


582 Market Street, Suite 213 San Francisco, CA 94104 (See a map)


Web Site: http://www.mustcreate.org

Directions:

We are located on the second floor of the Hobart Building, between Citibank and Quizno's Sandwich Shop. Parking is difficult, but we are easily accessible by bus, BART and Muni Metro.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Montgomery Station,   Walk distance (in minutes): 1   Nearest Bus Stop: 2nd Street, 1 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	No others
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	16
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	No
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	No

Last updated on August 20, 2009