school partnerships

Our Music Education Partners

Payne Elementary - Offering musical classes to +150 students weekly
DC Parks & Recreation - DC Parks and Recreation - hosting workshops and performances across DPR sites
Johnson Middle School - Johnson Middle School - leading strings & percussion instruction on a weekly basis for +30 students
Congressional School- Congressional School - serving more than a dozen strings students weekly in private lessons

Payne Arts Academy Spotlight

DC Strings Workshop has served hundreds of students in the DMV, including DC Public & Charter Schools, Alexandria Public Schools and Prince George’s County Schools. We regularly send teaching artists, to lead workshops, provide private lessons and build music programs.

The students of Payne Elementary School do not receive any music instruction during the school day. As parents, we are saddened by this fact, but we are excited that DC Strings Workshop has been filling this void by coming to Payne on Saturday mornings for the past year to introduce our children to instrumental music classes.

Payne Elementary School has been running an Arts Academy on Saturday mornings. The building comes alive with the sounds of violin students learning Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and guitar students playing Row Row Row Your Boat, and more.

In all, DC Strings taught a total of 3,408 hours of music lessons for students at Payne in the 2021-2022 school year, culminating with a performance for families.

The kids can come for up to three classes every Saturday morning – their choice of a DC Strings music class plus options including culinary arts, theater, robotics, Tae Kwon Do, ballet, yoga, basketball, and more. The Payne Saturday Arts Academy wouldn’t be possible without DC Strings, and I am writing in strong support of the organization.

The Payne Saturday Arts Academy is designed to reach children who would not otherwise have access to quality music education. Payne is a Title I school that serves a racially and socioeconomically diverse group of students, and only some of the families can afford to pay for enrichment programming. Tuition for Saturday Arts Academy is voluntary, and 40% of the Payne students who are enrolled in the Saturday Arts Academy are participating for free through tuition waivers. Music and arts education should not be a privilege available only to children whose families can afford expensive private lessons; the Payne Saturday Arts Academy is bringing affordable, accessible music and arts education to the Capitol Hill community.

Payne is a school that serves a diverse community of students. This program is a way for students to make meaningful connections with their peers and build relationships within their school community. In addition, Saturday Arts Academy has built community in the Capitol Hill neighborhood by opening the program not just to Payne students but other children who live in the neighborhood.

Payne and DC Strings are building the foundation of a program that we want not only to keep alive but to grow. We value our partnership with DC Strings in getting this program off of the ground and are looking forward to the years to come.

PROVEN, RESEARCH-BASED BENEFITS OF MUSIC

more likely to complete college

less likely to drop out of school

more likely to have gainful employment

more likely to vote

Andrew and I worked a wedding together at the National Press Club last November. Not only did he provide excellent musical selections, he attended the walk-through to provide needed feedback from the musicians perspective related to sound and audience experience.

I attended one of the concerts held at someone's house this year and let me tell you, I was completely blown away! Not only was the music absolutely amazing, but the atmosphere was as well. The musicians, some of which had traveled to be there for the event and did had never played with one-another, made the audience feel like we were family. there was no divide, we were ALL there to have a good time and listen to some great music. I loved it!

Having DCSW come to the library to perform is always a treat for our community. Children who might not otherwise have access to classical music get a chance to listen and learn, and our adults have a chance to relax and enjoy a high caliber performance without needing to leave their neighborhood. We hope our partnership continues for many years!

Camps

DC Strings Workshop has been proud to partner with the Deputy Mayor of Education (Learn24) to serve over 200 students throughout the pandemic. Highlights of the program include delivering instruments (piano, percussion, or strings) to students’ door and providing group therapy for all students.