NAMM Awards Music-Making Grant to Rhythm! Discover Center

Rhythm! Discovery Center is one of 21 recipients selected to receive grant support from The NAMM Foundation. The funding will allow Rhythm! to continue to offer participatory music programs that increase exposure to music making and its myriad benefits to the Indianapolis community. The NAMM Foundation annually allocates $500,000 in funding to support innovative music learning programs, with the goal of expanding access to active music making.

“NAMM Member support through participation at the NAMM Shows and membership in the association allow the NAMM Foundation to provide funding to worthy community–based music-making organizations,” said Mary Luehrsen, executive director of the NAMM Foundation. “We are honored to support this important program as together we work to expand opportunities for all persons, at every age to know the joys and benefits of making music.”

The “Find Your Rhythm! Community Outreach Program” is designed as a multi-faceted approach to provide primary school students access and inspiration to explore the benefits of making music and to encourage their participation in school music programs.  The program is designed to reach students in the Indianapolis area school systems who are within a few years of enrolling in school music programs. With mounting evidence that students participating in music education improve in other academic areas, the need to recruit their participation in music is vital. The program contains two components. The initial experience is a guided tour of Rhythm! Discovery Center or an in-school interactive demonstration. The experiences include a group rhythm event or drum circle that demonstrates the fundamentals of music and allows every student to experiment and experience music making in a non-threatening and fun environment. The second component is a family-oriented programming series at Rhythm! in which families enjoy Rhythm! free of charge during all events. The goal is to create an environment without barriers that will inspire children and families to participate in musical activities.

"I'm very pleased and thankful that we have been awarded the NAMM Foundation Grant for 2013-14.  With these funds, we will continue to develop and expand our community outreach programs to include a broader base of students and families within central Indiana whose lives can be impacted from the benefits of experiencing rhythm and music," stated Jeff Hartsough, Executive Director of Rhythm! Discovery Center and Percussive Arts Society.