Our Mission

Music for Life Alliance seeks to unite individuals and organizations actively supporting music education for children who may not otherwise be able to experience the educational, psychological, and social benefits of making music; and to create and maintain a national database that enables the sharing of information, combining of resources, and speaking in a common and more effective voice.

Building a database of Organizations Making a Difference

Whether you have needs for your music program or have an instrument or time/services to donate, Music for Life Alliance is set up to help you.

Do you have an organization capable of giving musical instruments and lessons to kids who my not otherwise experience the joy of making music? Please contact Al Norton and join our "Organizations Making A Difference."

Database Options:

Travel to our Links Page and browse our database to locate online resources.You may also download our database from here in a format more friendly to your system and software:
- Member Database in PDF format (166KB)
- Member Database in XLS format (467KB)

Auburn Journal

Just published, "Concerts motivated youth to learn instruments"

... The last concert of the 2007 season featured a wonderful guitarist named Muriel Anderson. Her concert motivated our daughter who was 12 at the time to come home and start practicing her father`s guitar. She has now surpassed him in skill and he is very proud of her. This motivated her older brother to start playing the guitar and he is also doing very well. He has also started playing the banjo since then. read on . . .

Premier Guitar Magazine

"Doing it for the Kids: Music for Life Alliance" in Premier Guitar Magazine

During NAMM`s party-packed Saturday night, one of the top draws was Muriel Anderson`s All Star Guitar Night, featuring a cavalcade of talented guitarists including David Grissom, Lawrence Juber, Monte Montgomery and Muriel herself (check out our exclusive interviews with David Grissom, Rusty Cooley, Pete Anderson and Ladd Smith on page 66). However the real story lies in the organization benefiting from the show. The program, called the Music for Life Alliance, is largely funded by performances like the All Star Guitar Night, and its efforts put instruments in the hands of children across the country. read on . . .

This month's featured organizations

The Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation
Dedicated to expanding awareness of and appreciation for classical music. The foundation funds many projects including an Instrument Loan Program that provides music students with high-quality instruments that foster interest and excitement. Beyond instruments, the REB Foundation offers grants for musicians' other expenses such as accompanists and sheet music. The String Student's Library of Music by Black Composers is a major part of the organization that works as a supplemental curriculum to teach students about the rich ethnic heritage of music. Their newest initiative is Global Heartstrings. This global project aims to support musicians in developing countries such as Haiti, Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria.

www.rebf.org

W.O. Smith Music School
Named for William Oscar Smith, member of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and professor at Tennessee State University, this nonprofit music school is dedicated to giving underprivileged music students a chance to succeed. Founded in 1984, this educational institution aims to make quality music education available to deserving children from low income families at a small free of 50 cents a lesson. Currently the school has over 350 students enrolled in over 500 classes. Beyond the classroom, the school encourages participation in community cultural life through concert attendance and performance.

www.wosmith.org

The Riekes Center
The Riekes Center for Human Enhancement is a nonprofit mentoring organization that utilizes a multidisciplinary approach. Started by Gary Riekes in the late 1970s, the center emphasizes self-esteem building through study of the creative arts. The mission of the Riekes Center is to help students define and accomplish their goals and interests through Athletic Fitness, Creative Arts, and Nature Awareness; and to improve their character, self-confidence, and peer relationships. Now impacting more than 5000 kids with over 28 programs, the organization fosters an environment of mutual respect and encouragement.

www.riekescenter.org

Little Kids Rock
A not-for-profit started by elementary school teacher David Wish in 1996. Little Kids Rock offers music education to children through a framework of popular music. The organization provides teaching materials to practitioners and teachers as well as providing instruments and music lessons to children who do not receive music education. Their goal is to maintain music as a critical part of elementary education in schools. Having served thousands of students in seven states, Little Kids Rock has become a nationally recognized not-for-profit.

www.littlekidsrock.org

Visit Past Featured Organizations ...