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Support Youth Music Education and Musicians in Need

There is no charge to use The Metrics of Music, and we hope you enjoy it and find it useful. If you do, please donate any amount to one of the following music charities to support youth music education and musicians in need. It’s a click away, and you’ll feel good doing it. Tell ‘em that The Metrics of Music sent you! Thank you!

Backline
With a large clinical staff, Backline provides mental health and wellness resources for music industry professionals and their families.

Boston Music Project (BMP)
Founded in 2011, non-profit BMP is “committed to ensuring the long-term social-emotional and musical success of Boston youth. Watch the short video on their About Us page for an overview of their mission.

CMA Foundation
CMAF focuses on improving and sustaining music education programs everywhere while supporting worthwhile causes important to the Country Music Association.

Community Music Center of Boston (CMCB)
Founded in 1910, CMCB’s mission is “to transform lives by providing equitable access to excellent music education and arts experiences.” With more than 3,000 students involved every week, CMCB is the largest external provider of arts education to Boston public schools.

Community Music Center (CMC)
Founded in 1921, CMC is a San Francisco nonprofit music school and performance space with branches in the Mission and Richmond Districts. “CMC makes high quality music accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, regardless of financial means.  We believe in the power of music to connect people, celebrate cultures and transform lives.”

Education Through Music
ETM is a major non-profit provider of direct and comprehensive music education as a core subject including music instruments and teacher training. ETM has offices in New York City, Los Angeles and Colorado. Here is a four-minute video from NBC-TV’s Today show in 2021 on the L.A. organization’s efforts.

El Sistema USA
This charitable organization serves 140 member programs, 6,000 teaching artists and 25,000 students in 35 states. El Sistema “works to ensure every child has access to high-quality music education that celebrates their voice and potential, by supporting a national network of organizations & educators. We believe that every child—regardless of income, geography, or identity—should have access to a high-quality music education program that builds community, opportunity, and personal growth.” This video explains its mission.

Grammy Museum
The Museum’s Campaign for Education aims to eliminate the financial burden to access music education and foster the next generation of music’s creators and leaders.

Guitars not Guns
GNG provides guitars and lessons to foster children and at-risk youth in a classroom setting with qualified teachers as an alternative to violence.

Hungry for Music
HFM is a charitable nonprofit supporting music education and cultural enrichment, and acquires and provides musical instruments to underprivileged children around the world.

Jazz Foundation of America
“Saving jazz, blues and roots one musician at a time,” JFoA is a nonprofit that helps musicians in need through emergency funds, housing assistance, medical care, disaster relief, education and performance opportunities.

L.A. Unified School District’s “Last Repair Shop”
The subject of the 2024 Academy Award-winning short documentary, the staff at LAUSD’s warehouse repair thousands of musical instruments for public school students, while also starting an apprenticeship program for the next generation of craftspeople. Watch the inspiring 40-minute film here.

Midori & Friends
M&F provides high-quality sequential music education to students in grades pre-K-12 in more than 70 New York City schools who have little or no access to the arts.

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation
The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation keeps music alive in our schools by providing vital support services to school districts, and musical instruments to underfunded music programs nationwide, giving under-represented youth access to the many benefits of music education, leading them to success in school, and inspiring creativity and expression through playing music.

MusiCares
Operated by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community in three key areas: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services, Health Services and Human Services. 

Music for Youth (Connecticut)
Music for Youth is a non-profit organization with the goal of bringing classical music into the lives of children in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Music for Youth (UK)
MFY is a U.K.-based charity providing free access to educational and performance opportunities for musicians aged 25 and under via large youth music festivals and concerts throughout the country including at Royal Albert Hall.

Music Forward
Originally known as the House of Blues Foundation, Music Forward has been advancing careers in music entertainment since 1993. With help from more than 300 industry volunteers, the organization’s live and virtual programs, grants and job placements have served 23,000 participants in nearly every state, 36 countries and 650 cities. Here’s a 90-second Music Forward video.

Music Health Alliance
MHA provides access to healthcare by removing barriers, finding solutions and restoring health and hope for music industry professionals nationwide.

Music Will
Music Will equips educators to teach, students to learn, and lives to be transformed through music education by teaching students to play, perform, improvise and compose using popular music students select.

National Association for Music Education
NAfME supports nearly 58,000 current, retired, and future music educators with the resources they need to succeed in the challenging and changing landscape of music education.

Newport Festivals Foundation
NFF supports musicians and music education across the country in order to continue the legacies of the Newport Jazz and Newport Folk Festivals.

Porter’s Call
Based in Franklin, Tennessee and founded in 2001, Porter’s Call is a place “where artists can find support and encouragement, specifically attuned to their unique profession. It’s a safe and confidential refuge where they can deal with the issues and stresses they face in their careers and personal lives.” Services are provided at no charge. The short video on their home page explains more.

The Roots of Music
TRoM provides music history and theory as well as instrumental instruction and ensemble performance preparation for kids ages 9-14 from low-income households, including academic tutoring, hot meals and roundtrip transportation.

Save The Music Foundation
STMF helps students, schools and communities, donating instruments and music technology, providing support services for teachers and advocating for music education.

Spirit of Harmony Foundation
Todd Rundgren’s nonprofit organization raises awareness and supports the benefits of instrument-based music education and music performance for youth, working directly with established music programs. 

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
The SRMF provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing physical or mental health issues, disability or age-related problems. This short video explains its mission.

Twin Cities Music Community Trust
Founded in 2014, the TCMCT stages performances and supports Minnesota musicians and others in the music community in need through its Emergency Relief Fund, while also providing education and workforce training.

W.O. Smith Music School, Nashville
The W.O. Smith Music School makes affordable, quality music instruction available to children ages 8-18 from low-income Nashville families, providing students with an instrument of their choosing, a volunteer teaching artist, study materials and classes and lessons for 50 cents.

Youth Music (UK)
YM is a national charity supporting those 25 and under with investment and influence in grassroots organizations and directly with young people interested in making, learning and earning in music.