Dear Western PA / District 1 schools,
​
PMEA District 1, The Farina Foundation, and The Education Partnership are teaming up to put musical instruments into the hands of students who need them throughout Southwestern PA.  
We need your help!

The Farina Foundation, a local independent 501c3 charity founded in 2015 to continue the legacy of Frank J. Farina, Jr., former Chairman of the North Allegheny Music Department, believed EVERY child should have the opportunity to fulfill their musical aspirations.  The Farina Foundation, in collaboration with The Education Partnership, has made it their mission is to provide school resources for students and their teachers at underserved schools throughout SWPA.  We are now seeking to collect any unused instruments from schools and districts in our region that could still have music left in them.

Please consider instruments that you are not currently using that could be repaired into something that could help those in need and desire to start instrumental music. Instruments will go to The Farina Foundation for refurbishment and storage until they can be re-distributed this coming school year to students in need via The Education Partnership or The Farina Foundation.

Musical instruments that are being collected:
- Instruments small enough to be carried by one (1) person
- Instruments that are in good working condition, or require light to moderate repairs​

If your school is in a position to support this endeavor, please reply to PMEA District 1 via THIS LINK!
Somebody will be in contact with you shortly after that with logistics. All instruments selected for donation will be picked up from your school directly over the summer months.

If you know of a particular student who needs a specific instrument, any teacher or parent can go to The Farina Foundation website to fill out the Play-it-Forward form and make a request.
For more information or to answer any questions, please reach out to The Farina Foundation directly at:  thefarinafoundation@gmail.com

With your help, we can provide deserving children with the means to pursue their passion for music.                  
Our sincere thanks for your consideration,

​The Education Partnership                            PMEA District 1                      The Farina Foundation
Josh Whiteside                                               Rob Traugh                            Frank Farina
Executive Director                                         Current President                  Chairman

This webinar has been scheduled for May 24th, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST Location: online

In light of recent fiscal events, it has become clear that many school administrators are approaching these difficult financial times without a clear understanding of the extraordinary value that music education has for their schools and the students they serve. Therefore, the music faculty at Seton Hill University is committed to providing teachers, parents, and community members with the tools necessary to effectively make their voices heard. In the coming weeks, our music education faculty (Dr. Jessica Vaughan-Marra and Dr. Christopher Marra) will be offering free webinars catering to music education advocacy. These are intended to directly provide support for all teachers, parents, community members, and administrators interested in developing and refining advocacy messages to proactively support their local arts and music programs.

Complete our online form to register to be notified of the webinar. You will receive a link once you have registered.

​https://www.setonhill.edu/centers-community-programs/community-arts-programs/music-education-advocacy/ 

https://triblive.com/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-value-of-music-education/?fbclid=IwAR2T-dFKSD69LRMdKK9Mc1RBb8elXRd8nb-0G2hN8J6-7U2DhZsD8cy4mHU 

For many, living through this pandemic illuminated the invaluable need for in-person learning and how easily the social, emotional and creative needs of students can be diminished with reduced access to equitable and quality arts education. Reductions to music programs undermine vital aspects of a well-rounded and rigorous education.
Instead of reducing, educators should consider the potential within reinstating and/or increasing arts (in particular music) education programs.
Quality music education provides:
• unparalleled social and emotional learning opportunities through self-expression and self-reflection inherent and unique to music performance.
• unique curricula for students of varying ability to collaborate within the music-making process.
• a link for students to their school and community culture through music performance.
• a primary means for pro-social identity development for students as music classes often are considered a “home away from home.”

hese are possible with consistent, equitable access to subject-specific preK-12 certified music teachers. These educators alone have the expertise to cater music curricula to meet the varied needs of their students and community at large. Educators should consider this before cuts.
Those who need help advocating for their music programs are welcome to join the Seton Hill University music education faculty for a free advocacy webinar at www.setonhill.edu/academics/undergraduate- programs/music-education-bm/.
Jessica Vaughan-Marra and Christopher M. Marra
Greensburg
The writers are music faculty members at Seton Hill University. This letter was also signed by faculty members Mark A. Boyle, Kathleen Campbell, Ted DiSanti, Laurie Fox, Edward M. Kuhn Jr., Sarah McMeekin and Kellee Van Aken.