LI's D'Addario Foundation Raising Money For Music Mentoring Programs

FARMINGDALE, NY — The D'Addario Foundation, based in Farmingdale, launched its Immersive Music Challenge last week. The new initiative aims to raise awareness and funds around a groundbreaking new study from UCLA.

The study finds intensive music mentoring, especially when done in lower-income schools, is linked to significantly improved reading and math scores, as well as decreased coronavirus pandemic-related anxiety.

Inspired by this new study, the foundation’s School Achievement Challenge doubles down on its efforts to bring music mentoring to schools around the country. D’Addario’s School Achievement Challenge aims to raise funds for national music mentoring implementation and generate awareness of the transformational academic, social and emotional impact of such programs.

“Learning a musical instrument will give you a friend for life," said Mark Knopfler, a guitarist, singer and writer, via news release. "Now the latest research has demonstrated how vital music education is in schools. It has positive effects in all areas of learning and development: makes us smarter and makes a better world. Supporting the D’Addario Foundation is a key to this approach. The foundation is growing - on a journey to becoming a global influence. I hope you can help, however you can.”

D'Addario noted the lower reading and math scores that have been reported nationwide following the pandemic. The New York Times reported that COVID-19 erased two decades' worth of progress in math and reading.

For more than 40 years, the D’Addario Foundation has helped fund intensive music instruction and mentoring programs in under-resourced communities throughout the country, such as Harmony Project, Guitars Over Guns, Play On Philly, and more.

"To me, music in schools is the most important thing that you could ever experience-and it may be one of the best things that educators can experience as well!" Nile Rodgers, a multiple GRAMMY-winning composer, stated. "The consistency and the fun of doing music is one of the best things a kid can experience."