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MusicLink
 MusicLink,
established in 1993 in Virginia, is an independent
foundation working with teachers, students, music
dealers and publishers. It's two parts are
LessonLink and StudyLink.
LessonLink (LL) (scholarship)
LessonLink identifies a potentially talented student
with financial need and develops the music potential
of this child, such as the skill, the love, and the
appreciation for music. The LL program links a
volunteer private teacher to this student on a full
or partial scholarship. These students may be on the
free or reduced lunch program in their schoolsa nd
would never dream that they could afford private
instruction. The simple link of 1+1+1 equals the
school + the student + an independent volunteer
teacher. A teacher usually works with only one LL
student at a time.
StudyLink (SL) (no scholarship)
This program offers academic credit to advanced
secondary music students for private study with a
qualified teacher in a plan to meet school
requirements. The student can have a performance
focus or he/she may wish to combine music with other
interest areas such as art, language, science, math
or English. This program is an incentive to keep the
student's interest alive while in high school.
MUSICLINK fits right in with America's
Promise, the Alliance for Youth, which is the
call for volunteerism under Colin Powell. This
national not-for-profit organization is dedicated to
improving the lives of our nation's more than 15
million at-risk youth with access to the five
fundamental resources needed in order to lead happy,
healthy, and productive lives.
How to Get Started in MusicLink
(A teacher should contact Sue Garnhart for
information and materials.)
Outside In: Any volunteer teacher who is
already teaching a student on scholarship can
complete an information card and send the completed
card back to Sue Garnhart to become a part of
MusicLink. The teacher, to qualify, must be charging
no more than half the student lesson fee.
Inside Out: The school music teacher
recommends that a musically talented child study
with a private teacher. The state or local
coordinator of MusicLink finds a volunteer teacher,
checks the requirements and helps to complete the
information card and the link begins.
LL initially asks the school to allow the use of an
instrument at school for practice time, or the
student is provided with a donated instrument. This
provides a few months of time to see if the student
is truly committed to private lessons. Each case is
handled individually.
In the spring, the volunteer teacher is asked to
fill out one evaluation form each year that the
student is studying. This completed form is sent to
the state representative so that the hours and
scholarship are recorded for America's Promise
commitment and for the MusicLink Coordinator
records.
For more information contact PA MusicLink Liaison,
Sue Garnhart (412) 835-7640, 113 Lambeth Drive,
Pittsburgh, PA 15241-2319 or e-mail suegarnhart@verizon.net
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