NRPL Foundation Kicks Off Campaign to Create Music Practice Rooms at the Library

Members and supporters of the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation met Wednesday night in the Library’s Bliss Music Center to celebrate the kick off an exciting new initiative which could be a game-changer for local musicians of all ages: The creation of sound-proof music practice rooms, a new community resource that removes cost and space barriers to music education and creative expression.

NRPLF co-presidents Stephanie Tomei and Rod Rolett announced a leadership grant from the Kylie and Louis R. Cappelli Foundation that will fast track the project, with the Music Studios expected to be available late next fall.

“On behalf of the Kylie and Louis Cappelli Foundation, we are proud to support the New Rochelle Public Library’s music studio initiative,” says Louis Capppelli. “Every child deserves the opportunity to explore their creativity, discover their voice, and build confidence through the arts. This is about investing in young people -- because they are our future -- and giving them the tools, inspiration, and opportunity to dream bigger and achieve more.”

The Cappelli Music Studios will expand access to music practice space by bringing soundproof, glass enclosed, purpose-built practice rooms to the Library’s main branch. Each room will be acoustically isolated, climate-controlled, and electrically equipped to support individual or small-group practice, voice work, and private lessons. Practice rooms will be outfitted with instruments and essential equipment and made available for booking through the Library’s already-in-place booking platform, providing the quiet, uninterrupted space essential for meaningful music learning.

The Cappelli Music Studios will be a part of the Library’s popular Bliss Music Center, located on the NRPL’s third floor. A Foundation-supported initiative, the Center includes listening stations, CD collections and the largest public collection of musical scores in Westchester County. By adding practice rooms that also serve as recording/listening stations, and expanding access to instruments, the Music Studios will remove one of the most significant barriers to music learning: free access to dedicated, soundproof space.

A Proven Solution

The idea of siting sound-proof practice modules inside a library has proved successful in other libraries across our country -- from the Seattle Public Library’s Music Practice Rooms to the New York Public Library’s Teen Studios and Media Labs -- but none yet exist in Westchester County.

With more than 751,000 annual visits and tens of thousands of residents participating in learning programs each year, the New Rochelle Public Library is one of the city’s most heavily utilized public spaces. And Library Director Eugenia Schatoff says one the questions librarians hear all the time is “Where can I practice my music?”

Despite the popularity of the Bliss Music Center, the Library currently has no dedicated space for instrument or vocal practice: Existing meeting rooms and the Library’s theater cannot accommodate music practice due to scheduling demands and sound constraints, and this gap limits access to music education and creative growth for many residents.

Schatoff says “Students, musicians and creatives of all ages are looking for accessible, welcoming spaces to learn and to grow. The Music Studios will give people of all skill levels a dedicated space to practice, experiment and build confidence.”

The Music Studios have already inspired enthusiastic support: “Having dedicated practice space is so important,” says Matthew Lucero, Director of Pre-K to 12 Performing and Visual Arts for the City School District of New Rochelle. “While our students have the opportunity to rehearse as part of a large ensemble in our schools, it’s important that students have space to rehearse independently and practice on their own to refine their skills and improve for when they come to class and full rehearsals.”

Actor and Producer Ryan Linn, a New Rochelle native who manages the musician Jon Battiste, says he has had the privilege of working with some of the greatest musicians in the world: “One of the things that all these great musicians, including John, have had that has helped to make themgreat is access to unbelievable spaces to practice. It is a seminal part of the development of musicians and such a vital part of their ability to hone their craft and their skills. This will be such an unbelievable resource to have for our developing artists and musicians.”

Thanks to the Kylie and Louis R. Cappelli Foundation’s leadership gift, the NRPLF is well on the way to achieving its goal of raising $165,000. “We are looking for other supporters who will help make the Music Studios a reality,” says Lynn Green, NRPLF Vice President. “Donors can underwrite a practice studio, sponsor an instrument set or make a donation in any amount,” Gifts of $1,000 and more will be recognized on a special plaque in the Bliss Music Center. For more information, contact Nina Robertson, Executive Director at nrobertson@nrplfoundation.org.

About the NRPL Foundation

The New Rochelle Public Library Foundation is a 501 c 3 non-profit fundraising and advocacy organization working to ensure the future well-being of the Library. The NRPL Foundation supports Library initiatives that enhance opportunities for lifelong learning, exploration and public discourse.

Established in 1993 on the occasion of the Library’s centennial, the Foundation has raised in excess of $4 million for the New Rochelle Public Library. In addition, stepping in as a matching funder, the Foundation has been able to leverage its support to bring in excess of $2 million in New York State grants over the past 10 years. These funds have been used for significant capital investments, including the purchase of computers for public access to the Internet; renovation of the reference and information service area; refurbishing of the lobby; creation of a teen area; development of a local history room; creation of a Business Opportunity Center, Quiet Reading Room and Community Conference Room; plus renovations to the Ossie Davis Theater and other areas. To learn more visit the website at nrplfoundation.org.