Shoreline Schools Music4Life™ Progress Report

The Rotary Club of Shoreline learned on Tuesday that musical instruments for the Shoreline Schools Music4Life™ program are beginning to pour in and that community events are being planned to support it.

David Endicott, who helps run the Music4Life program for Shoreline Schools, told Shoreline Rotarians that 15 fully repaired musical instruments have been delivered to Shoreline Schools and several more are close to delivery. He said more than two dozen other instruments may be assigned to Shoreline if community resources can be identified to get them all repaired.

Asked why such a program is needed, Endicott said “It’s because research now shows that kids who study instrumental music do better in math, science, history, literature, languages (both foreign languages and English) and in other scholastic disciplines. Kids who come from families that can’t even afford to rent a musical instrument are in danger of not getting a full, basic education. So, in a very real sense, Shoreline Schools Music4Life is more than just a ‘music program.’ It’s an ‘education program.’” 

The program acquires used musical instruments from adults who no longer use them, gets them fully repaired and donates them free of charge to Shoreline Schools for use primarily by students from low income families. The Shoreline program is supported by the Rotary Club of Shoreline and Shoreline Breakfast Rotary. Music4Life also operates other programs for Seattle and Highline Public Schools.

Used musical instruments can be dropped-off at any Kennelly Keys Music store or at any of several conveniently located sites throughout the Puget Sound area. Donations that help take care of musical supplies and repairs can be made via PayPal or by visiting the website.