The Season of Giving

December 2018

“Music has been an absolutely constant force in my life…the things I learned from violin have been a constant resource for me to draw on for the rest of my life. Thank you so much — my life would not be the same without String Academy.”

“I have so many great memories of my String Academy days! And I feel so grateful that I learned to play and truly love the violin at the String Academy.”

~ SAW Alumni Quotes

Dear Friend,

One of the most rewarding gifts teachers receive are heartfelt messages and success stories from former students. Music transforms lives in a multitude of ways. Scientists have found that music lessons profoundly transform a child’s cognitive abilities resulting in increased learning capacity, focus, empathy, and the ability to interact with others. Sadly, today fewer schools, especially in low-income areas, can offer this opportunity to students.

This year (our 29th), approximately 90 children ages 4-18, from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, study violin and viola at the String Academy of Wisconsin. SAW’s professional faculty carefully guide students in a challenging course of study that includes weekly private and group instruction, classes in music theory/ear training, and numerous solo and group performances. Our comprehensive curriculum encourages and develops teamwork, problem solving, and self-confidence that benefits students in their music studies and beyond. By educating the WHOLE child, SAW offers preparation for success in school and life!

The Academy strives to make an excellent music education possible for low-income families through our acclaimed Urban Students in Arts Outreach program which includes two primary strategies for providing high quality music education and instruments to USAO students.

Scholarships and instruments to 25 students annually whose families could not otherwise afford music lessons.
Partnerships with Milwaukee Public Schools where a majority of students are from low-income homes. Our faculty is providing instruction to students with demonstrated potential and a strong desire to learn at Escuela Vieau, an MPS K-8 school. These students (along with other USAO recipients) also come to the Academy for weekly group instruction and performances. We were able to enroll more Vieau students this year, but children still remain on the waiting list of this popular program. Providing instruction, instruments, music is costly — a minimum of $2,500 per student.

These programs can only continue with contributions from foundations and generous individuals like you, who understand the profound importance of the arts in a child’s development. Thank you!

Will you make a gift today to help ensure that talented students in Milwaukee continue to grow
and develop through music education – no matter their financial circumstances?
Your gift of any amount matters and is greatly appreciated. It is instrumental to our success in educating the whole child.

Sincerely,

Darcy Drexler, SAW Director

Julilly W. Kohler, SAW Board Chair