Friday, November 6, 2009

DC Charity Spotlight: Community Help In Music Education (CHIME)

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It all began as a memorial to a talented young daughter: first Dorothy Marschak helped provide free music lessons for children in Berkeley, California, and years later, as a docent for the National Symphony Orchestra, she was moved to help again--this time by the responsiveness of DCPS children in Title I schools who were eager for music education. Soon, CHIME was born and it continues to expand its repertoire. Music Around the World teaches schoolchildren about the music of different cultures and lets them experience many new instruments, often for the very first time. Intensive, integrated, in-school music programming and ongoing instructional support are on the agenda for this year. CHIME also offers professional development workshops for teachers, and sponsors an instrument donation program--Band Aid for DC Public Schools--distributing instruments in good repair (125 to date) to worthy students. City wide summer music programs at 12 sites reach many hundreds, and also include employment opportunities for older youth. Funded, through CHIME's efforts, by the City Council, DCPS will budget them in the future: what an accomplishment! A joint project with American University and the Smithsonian's Anacostia museum documents the “glory days” of public school music ensembles--and advocates bringing those glory days back. Let us all chime in!

Dorothy Marschak,
Founder and President

1789 Lanier Place, NW, Suite 3
Washington, DC 20009
202-232-2731
chime-dc.org

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