When we wanted to truly enrich the experiences of our students at our Title 1 Bay Area urban school, we looked for a program that would honor the diversity among our students and provide them with a variety of opportunities to encourage their talent and interests and we were very lucky to partner with MUST to meet our needs and desires in an afterschool enrichment program for over 250 students. As I moved into a position at my district office I wanted to give all students in our district these same amazing and enriching experiences and was able to expand our partnership to twelve schools and over 1000 students. High quality, diverse and culturally relevant programming and opportunities offered through our partnership with MUST were abundant and effective.

— Pam VandeKamp, Ed.D.Director of Assessment and Accountability Pleasanton Unified School District

I needed to shift how I was teaching my classes because of distance learning. I didn't have the instruments or the budget to supply my students with what they needed. MUST stepped in, donated guitars and basses so each of my students could have an instrument to play at home. They really saved my program!

— Oakland middle school band teacher Randy Porter

I always wanted to learn to play an instrument like flute or sax. I never thought
I'd actually get to.

— Josie, a San Francisco sixth grader benefitting from a MUST program

I'm so proud to be a part of Music In The Schools this year. The arts are essential, and unfortunately, an afterthought these days. Just ask any child who has had the good fortune to be exposed to music.

- Paula West, legendary jazz singer

Meg, you've done a lot more for me than you might be aware. The first time I met you was before I knew I was going to be a teacher. The year was 2000 and MUST was doing a program in conjunction with Putumayo, a workshop at Mickey Hart's place. You got me involved and I owe to you a lot of those initial exposures and experiences, teaching ideas and pedagogy and why I got involved in the first place.

- Zack Pitt-Smith, Music Program Director,
OUSD Edna Brewer Middle School. Named Teacher of the Year for OUSD in 2013.

Three years ago the Oakland Unified School District embarked on a mission to reinvent our music program. MUST provided the necessary assistance to move our program from a model of instruction over 50 years old to the 21st Century

- Phil Rydeen, OUSD Program Manager for Visual and Performing Arts

MUST is such a recognized authority on music pedagogy and methodology, with utter mastery of the topic of music learning for the pre-k ages. It is very impressive that you are essentially delivering music at an average cost of about $130/student per year. Funders DO look at cost per child. Any education program that serves students for under $300/student (or so) is considered to be a very efficiently run program!

- Lisa Tracy, Executive Director, Callison Foundation

Music has a huge impact on all human beings and especially our young tykes, as they are learning language, numeracy and motor skills. Surely if we can demonstrate that music intervention improves classroom behavior in Head Start schools, we are beginning to make the case the music can improve education nationally. I am convinced that Music in Schools Today has the resources to develop, assess and disseminate a model that can be successfully placed in Head Start centers around the country.

Professional development reinforced over time is a proven way to engage teachers in new methods. Research - asking an important question, with strong methodological design, rigorously conducted, thoroughly documented, and packaged in terms that laymen can understand - is a critical piece of any Head Start music education program. The team that MUST brings to the table will help to provide both the program and the evidence necessary to convince educators and the general public of the importance of music in early learning.

- Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director, National Head Start Association

My family has supported Music in Schools Today since its early days. I am honored to have been chosen as a role model for our youth today. My advice to young people aspiring to be musicians is, do everything you do with heart.

- Carlos Santana

It has been my pleasure to work closely with Music in Schools Today over the years. Your leadership in the challenge to preserve and promote music education has been substantial... by working as you do with all members of our Bay Area community, as well as reaching out to provide support and guidance to grassroots organizations across the country, MuST is effecting a positive transformation in American education.

- United States Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

Music does something for the individual that is quite beyond (being) merely a frill or a decorative activity. Music in Schools Today (has) done more than any other agency...
to ensure that our public school children receive a music education.

- The late Lord Yehudi Menuhin, violinist, conductor and educator 1999

I have been working with Music in Schools Today for many years and they are an amazing program. In Pleasanton, they provided Summer Music programming during the summer last year working together with Nancy San Jose. They provided the enrichment during the regular Summer School....Last year, they worked very hard to create a wonderful curriculum which specifically addresses social emotional learning through music. Highly recommended! Thanks

- Pam VandeKamp, Ed.D., Director of Assessment and Accountability Pleasanton Unified School District