Category: Camps

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Learn 24

DC Strings Workshop operates from the belief that all people, particularly young people,  should experience the joy of music, and access to quality music instruction.

The DC Strings team advocates at the local, state, and national level for public and charter schools to develop strong music programs and works with community partners to expand access to high-quality music programs, particularly in underserved areas.

Each summer, with generous support from the Deputy Mayor of Education,  DC Strings facilitates three unique virtual music camps for children ages 5 to 16 throughout the Washington, DC. This special camp is called Learn 24. 

Reaching approximately 50 students in each session, the Summer Camp offers an intensive six-week program with a broad curriculum that gives each child the chance to try a variety of instruments—piano, strings and percussion—to determine which best suits them. Pre-pandemic, DC Strings led music programming with DC Parks and Recreation serving more than 200 students through four-weeks of instruction. 

The Music Camps bring children together from communities all over the DC area to bond over the love of music and forge friendships that can last a lifetime. To confront any existing trauma, students also participate in group therapy focused on addressing the impact of adverse events and building resilience. This program seeks to use music as a bridge to equip students with new tools to process and safely heal from these experiences. 

Recognizing that most schools in the DC Public School System have not prioritized or cannot afford to have a dedicated teacher on staff, DC Strings Workshop also reaches youth and others through masterclasses, private lessons, workshops, presentations, and performances. Each year, DC Strings Workshop provides free instruments to students and underwrites thousands of private lessons.

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DC Strings instrumental in music education through virtual Learn 24 summer camp

DC Strings Workshop (DCSW) is committed to bringing music education, outreach, and supporting stronger music programs in public and charter schools, especially in underserved areas of the District. 

Each summer, with generous support from the Deputy Mayor of Education through Learn24,  DC Strings facilitates three unique virtual music camps for children ages 5 to 16 throughout Washington, DC. 

Reaching approximately 50 students in each session, the summer camp offers an intensive six-week program with a broad curriculum that gives each child the chance to try a variety of instruments—piano, strings, and percussion—to determine which best suits them. 

Pre-pandemic, DC Strings led music programming with DC Parks and Recreation serving more than 200 students through four weeks of instruction. 

The music camps bring children together from communities all over the DC area to bond over the love of music and forge friendships that can last a lifetime. To confront any existing trauma, students also participate in group therapy focused on addressing the impact of adverse events and building resilience. 

This program seeks to use music as a bridge to equip students with new tools to process and safely heal from these experiences. 

Recognizing that most schools in the DC Public School System have not prioritized or cannot afford to have a dedicated teacher on staff, DC Strings Workshop also reaches youth and others through masterclasses, private lessons, workshops, presentations, and performances. 

DCSW reaches young audiences through – master classes, private lessons, workshops, presentations, and performances. To-date DC Strings Workshop has donated over 20 instruments to students in need and paid for over $10,000 of private lessons. 

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Mayor Bowser Awards $2.9 Million in Grants to Community Organizations Providing Summer Programming for District Youth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 18, 2021

Funds Will Help 2,200 District Youth Access Summer Programming

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser awarded $2.92 million to 38 community-based organizations that will support more than 2,200 District youth with access to quality summer programming. The funding will be awarded from the Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (OST Office). The grant funding will support summer programming in areas including academics, arts, athletics, dance, cooking, financial literacy, mentoring, music, social emotional support, STEM, and much more. Organizations will follow all safety and health protocols set by health officials and provide in-person programming at DC Public Schools and public charter school sites as well as at other locations throughout Washington, DC. 

“After a challenging year, it’s more important than ever that this summer we offer our youth a chance to learn new skills, explore opportunities, and have fun with their peers in safe and healthy environments,” said Mayor Bowser. “These community-based organizations have strong partnerships with our families and youth and build on the critical work being done during the school year. With their partnership, we will continue to provide young Washingtonians with access to programs that not only get them ready for their future academic endeavors, but also equip them for life beyond the classroom.”  

Since October 2017, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) and the OST Office have worked to improve the quality of out-of-school time (OST) programs by administering workshops that improve the skills of youth development professionals, supporting capacity building within organizations, and working to enhance program and implementation to youth serving organizations in the District. The OST Office leads the Learn24 network, which consists of OST programs, government agencies, the Commission on Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes, the Institute for Youth Development, and other key stakeholders that are committed to ensuring all District youth have access to a quality OST program. 

 The following organizations will receive funding during Summer 2021: 

  1. Amala Lives

  2. Arts for Our Children, Inc

  3. Beta Omega Social Services Inc

  4. Capital City Public Charter School

  5. Children’s Defense Fund

  6. City Gate Inc*

  7. Dance Institute of Washington (The)

  8. Dance Makers, Inc

  9. DC Strings Workshop

  10. Do The Write Thing Foundation of DC

  11. EnventU

  12. Exodus Treatment Center

  13. Faith for the City, Inc*

  14. For Love of Children

  15. FRESHFARM

  16. Friendship Public Charter School

  17. George Washington University*

  18. Healthy Living Inc

  19. Horizons Greater Washington

  20. Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute

  21. International Association of Human Values*

  22. Life Pieces To Masterpieces*

  23. Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region*

  24. Mentors of Minorities in Education, Inc

  25. Multicultural Career Intern Program

  26. National Center for Children and Families

  27. Neighborhood Associates Corporation*

  28. One Common Unity

  29. Progressive Life Center*

  30. Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation*

  31. Swaliga Foundation

  32. Tech Turn Up

  33. Thurgood Marshall Academy

  34. Tumaini DC, Inc *

  35. Tutoring Cafe

  36. Two Rivers Public Charter School

  37. Words Beats and Life, Inc

  38. Young Men’s Christian Association of Metropolitan Washington

*new grantee 

DC residents can support afterschool and summer programs this tax season by making a Contribution to Taxpayer Support for Afterschool Programs for At-Risk Students on their individual income tax form under the contributions section on Schedule U part II, line 2. These funds will support grants to help bring safe and meaningful opportunities to District youth beyond the normal school day. 

 

District residents can locate OST programs and resources for youth and youth-serving organizations throughout the District at Learn24.dc.gov. 

 

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Social Media: 

Mayor Bowser Twitter: @MayorBowser 

Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser 

Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser 

Mayor Bowser Website: mayor.dc.gov 

Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos  

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DC Strings Workshop Calls for Increased Funding in Music Education For DC Public Schools


DC Strings Member Ray Pitts shares a moment with local elementary school children - sharing the joys of music and introducing them to the cello!

DC Strings Member Ray Pitts shares a moment with local elementary school children – sharing the joys of music and introducing them to the cello!

Throughout the months of March and April, DC Strings Workshop has met with members of the DC Council to discuss our priorities around music education for each public school student. It is our hope you will join our campaign and get involved.

Currently, funding for elementary band and string programs, is allocated to schools on a per-pupil basis. Our neighboring school districts in Fairfax, Montgomery county and surrounding jurisdictions make the investment of music educators, instructors and equipment in their music programs. The funding is set at $5 for elementary, $10 for middle school, and $15 for high school which is woefully inadequate to meet music instrument demand, instruction supports and supplemental workshops and masterclasses to equip our students toward mastery, not just exposure. We are calling on the Council to make the investment and double the music allocation per pupil to ten-dollars ($10) for elementary school, twenty ($20) dollars for middle school, and thirty ($30) dollars for high school. We also encourage DCPS to add a fifteen ($15) dollar allocation for instrument repair and maintenance and ($10) for field-trips and music-related activities off-campus.  

Our final recommendation would be to have the music office of DCPS administer a music instrument fund ($300,000 @ $30,000 for up to 10 schools annually + $15,000 instrument repair) as a pilot program. The $315,000 music instrumental fund is a solid way to add more schools and support schools that need new instruments beyond current supply funds in the DCPS staffing formula. DC Strings Workshop regularly hears from school music teachers on the Hill that they do not have enough money from DCPS for instruments and/or instruction needs. 


DC Strings Workshop Board Chairman: Q. Bernard Driskell Testifies before the DC Council

DC Strings Workshop Board Chairman:
Q. Bernard Driskell Testifies before the DC Council


DC Strings Orchestra Member Peter Clamp Testifies before the DC Council

DC Strings Orchestra Member Peter Clamp Testifies before the DC Council

Read the full testimony of:

  1. Board Chairman Q. Bernard Driskell,

  2. Board Member Jenna Day

  3. DC Strings Orchestra Member Peter Clamp.

Watch the full video of testimony here:

  1. Quardricos Bernard Driskell | DCPS Budget Oversight Hearing   3-29-19

  2. Peter Clamp | DCPS Budget Oversight Hearing   3 29 19

  3. Jenna Day | DC Public Library Oversight Hearing 4 1 19

  4. Don Johns | Committee on Recreation & Youth Affairs, Budget Oversight Hearing   4 5 19

  5. Andrew M  Lee | Committee on Recreation & Youth Affairs, Budget Oversight Hearing   4 5 19

  6. Quardricos Bernard Driskell | Committee on Recreation & Youth Affairs, Budget Oversight Hearing   4 

  7. Oliver Spurgeon III | Committee on Recreation & Youth Affairs, Budget Oversight Hearing   4 5 19

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