Roots of Music

The program provides free music education and ensemble performance in a year round After School and Saturday program. Students arrive at the program and go directly to academic enrichment activities for the first half of the program. The children then break up into their musical sections working hands on with their music instructor. The organization provides the students with a free meal daily. Free buses are provided by the program to collect students from their schools and bring them home afterwards. The program serves over 100 middle school students from over 40 schools across Orleans parish. Additionally, the a satellite program called the Roots Studio Academy operates in an independent facility and serves approximately 12 high school students two days per week. Further, the program comprises a full traditional New Orleans marching band that has paraded the city since 2009. The program operates for on average 200 days per calendar year.