Dear Friends and Colleagues,

In the front office here at Musikgarten, hanging for as long as anyone can remember, we have a poster that is titled “How to Build Community.” Faded from time but still relevant today, it provides a long list of practical ideas that individuals, families, and even companies can implement to create community. Some are as simple as “know your neighbors”, or “look up when you walk” and “greet people”. Others are more difficult in practice, such as “listen before you react in anger” and “learn from new and uncomfortable angles.” Whether it is simple or difficult, all of these have a commonality – put yourself aside and do the hard work of getting to know people.

Musikgarten detests the current violence and continued inequality plaguing our society.  At the very same time, we heartily support the on-going public conversation concerning racial relations in both our local community and in the nation, in relationship to the treatment of individuals and groups. Just as other multinational and multicultural organizations, we too are taking a careful look at ourselves and the material used in early childhood music education, including the Musikgarten curricula. The Musikgarten authors, trainers and staff are discussing these issues most seriously.

Since our opening in 1994 we have always been active in addressing racism.  We choose an effective and practical role: offering education for children who cannot afford Musikgarten classes, instituting work and hiring practices to support racial balance. Musikgarten believes in doing the hard work of building community, not just talking about it.  Since 1994, The Musikgarten Foundation has provided the many benefits of early childhood music to local and national Head Start programs. We continue to encourage and nurture diversity in our staff and suppliers. Musikgarten has also donated over an acre of land to the inner city part of town (where the company building is located) for a nature and children’s park.

We would like to challenge you to do the hard work of getting out into your community, and we want to help you in this effort. Musikgarten herewith announces a scholarship program for minority children and families in your area that cannot afford the benefits of music and movement classes. For the Fall 2020 semester we have ten openings. This is a beginning, and if we have good response we will add openings. Musikgarten will pay you, the teacher, 75% of your normal Fall semester tuition fee for the student/family and supply the family materials for free. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship for a child in your community, please email us at info@musikgarten.org.

In this time of turmoil, we will continue to be active in addressing the inequalities in our society.  We hope that you will join us today in continuing the hard work of building community.

Sincerely,

Musikgarten