FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – Fort Wayne-based online music equipment retailer Sweetwater is partnering with Music Will, a nonprofit music program based in Covina, California, to help under-resourced schools across the country establish music programs.
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The partners are launching the National Instrument Fund, which will provide musical equipment to an initial 34 schools, including four in Indiana.
Sweetwater said in a news release that nearly 4 million students nationwide are without access to music education sources, and a lack of access to instruments is one of the biggest barriers.
“At Sweetwater, we know that music education is a powerful way to build students’ confidence, foster inclusion and belonging, and learn how to collaborate with others,” CEO Mike Clem said. “These are life skills that every student should have access to develop, and we’re proud to play a role in helping unlock their potential and creativity through the gift of music.”
More than 300 schools applied for the fund, which the company said signals the need for more collaboration across the music industry to close the gap.
The instruments and music gear being delivered to schools over the next month include electric and acoustic guitars, drums, keyboards, and sound systems.
“With the generosity of Sweetwater, we’re helping teachers across the country set up new music programs in schools where they didn’t exist, and expand existing programs where more students want to participate than teachers currently have the resources to support,” Music Will CEO Mike Wasserman said.
Sweetwater Director of Business Operations Pete Van Baalen declined to provide a dollar figure for the company’s investment in the partnership.
“This is a multi‑faceted collaboration that includes substantial direct financial support, as well as in‑depth work on assessing equipment needs, product selection, and coordinating logistics to ensure all 34 schools are fully supported at delivery and throughout implementation,” Van Baalen said in an email to IIB.
The Indiana schools that will benefit from the fund are Salamonie Elementary School in Warren, Washington Elementary in Fort Wayne, Norwell High School in Ossian, and William Penn Middle School in Indianapolis.
The other recipients are:
- Rosa Parks Elementary School – San Francisco, CA
- West Grand Jr. and Sr. High – Kremmling, CO
- Sunset Elementary School – Craig, CO
- MacFarland Middle School – Washington, DC
- American Falls High School – American Falls, ID
- Coonley School – Chicago, IL
- Dawes Elementary – Chicago, IL
- McKay Elementary School (Chicago Public Schools) – Chicago, IL
- Wamego High School – Wamego, KS
- Belfry High School – Belfry, KY
- Downsville Community Charter School – Downsville, LA
- Katahdin High School – Stacyville, ME
- Woodland School – Woodland, ME
- Hopkins High School – Minnetonka, MN
- Shelby Elementary School – Shelby, MT
- Manchester Central High School – Manchester, NH
- North Dover Elementary – Dover, NJ
- Monaco Middle School – Las Vegas, NV
- Wauseon Elementary – Wauseon, OH
- Central Mountain High School – Mill Hall, PA
- Arden Elementary School – Columbia, SC
- Johns Island Elementary School – Johns Island, SC
- Albert Hill Middle School – Richmond, VA
- Hardwick Elementary School – Hardwick, VT
- Hyde Park Elementary School – Hyde Park, VT
- Winooski Middle High School – Winooski, VT
- Fisher’s Landing Elementary – Vancouver, WA
- Chilton Middle School – Chilton, WI
- East Elementary School – Jefferson, WI
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