My Nonprofit Reviews
marcia38wilke
Review for MusicLink Foundation, Arlington, VA, USA
I have been involved in the MusicLink program as a piano teacher since 1999, teaching six students over the years since then. I have also served as the ML Chair for the local chapter of music teachers, having the responsibility of finding free pianos for each ML student in our community and arranging for the moving of those pianos. I have served as the ML chair for the Washington state music teachers association (WSMTA), presenting a program on ML at a WSMTA convention and meeting other teachers who have become ML volunteers. It has been a joy to share the music that has made a difference in my life with those who otherwise would be unable to have lessons.
More Feedback
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2014
Review for MusicLink Foundation, Arlington, VA, USA
I have been involved in the MusicLink program since 1999, teaching piano to musically talented students whose parents cannot afford to pay for lessons. Each MusicLink teacher makes their own arrangement with the parents as to how much they can invest moneywise in lessons. Most of my parents have been able to pay for the music. I have also had several students help me with housecleaning or music inventory.
These students must be on reduced lunch, free lunch or on the borderline in their schools.
Washington State Music Teachers Association waives the fees for Adjudications, an educational event where each student plays two memorized pieces and is given constructive criticism by a college music professor, held each year in our local chapter. Fees are also waived if a MusicLink student enters the Young Composers Project, also part of the state organization's activities.
Music has been such a large part of my life that I know how taking lessons and learning how to discipline one's self to practice helps in adulthood. I see the benefit of music for these students as it may be the only contact they have on a one-to-one basis with an adult other than parents. Some have gone on to major or minor in college and would not have had exposure to music except through the MusicLink program.
I have been able to find free pianos for these students in my community. The local chapter of music teachers has been willing to pay for the appraisal of the instruments offered by people in the community and moving the pianos into people's homes. Once a student takes lessons for four years, they may keep the piano.
When I have a MusicLink student leave my studio, I talk with music specialists in the local schools to see if they have musically talented students who meet the criteria for the MusicLink program. I feel it is so important to reach out to those students and give them a chance to succeed and love music.
I have served as the local coordinator for this program since its inception in my town.
I've also been pleased of the partnership with our local Symphony which has offered free tickets to for a MusicLInk student and adult to take them to the concerts.
Also, a former piano tuner in town offered to give free tunings to the pianos of the MusicLink students. I am hopeful that the present piano tuner will offer to do the same thing.
More Feedback
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
