Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts Education, Bands & Ensembles, Music

Mission: Music Will transforms lives by transforming music education. The revolutionary Music Will approach revolves around music that kids know and love, and it uses the tools that motivate them, from instruments to voice to computers. It’s creative, inclusive, and relevant to kids’ lives. And like popular music, it moves at the speed of culture and technology. Through professional training, tools and resources—and groundbreaking programs like modern band—Music Will helps teachers draw the music out, rather than drum it in.

Results: Since 2002, Music Will’s program impact has grown exponentially having reached more than 1,200,000 total students, trained more than 5,000 teachers, and distributed more than 95,000 instruments to classrooms across the country.

Target demographics: K-12 public-school students in diverse communities

Direct beneficiaries per year: Last year, 2,600 Music Will trained-teachers provided free, weekly music instruction to 565,000 public-school students.

Geographic areas served: Founded in 2002, MW is an established music education nonprofit that has reached more than a million kids and teachers in over 5,000 schools across the country.

Programs: Music Will is a recognized innovator and thought leader in music education. We launched the modern band movement in public schools and colleges and universities, transforming the way students and music teachers are being taught. We have invented new musical instruments, introduced new teaching tools, developed method books, and offered videos and other resources that easily integrate into existing music education programs.