United Sound’s peer mentoring program offers musical opportunities to chronically underserved populations. Students with disabilities in 7-12 grade are often excluded from traditional instrumental music programs due to the large student-to-teacher ratio, which makes differentiating curriculum for individual students difficult or even impossible. United Sound provides current band and orchestra students, music teachers and special education teachers the opportunity and resources (training, specialized curriculum, flash cards) needed to step up and create more inclusive, empowering ensembles. Currently, 14 schools in the greater Phoenix area participate in United Sound’s peer mentoring program. This grant will allow us to expand our reach in the 24/25 school year and impact over 600 students!
Participation in United Sound has the life-long effect of creating a huge body of people who will work better together and protect each other from discrimination and harm. This, above everything else, is the importance of our work.
“I created United Sound after realizing that, as a band director, I was not well-equipped to serve students with disabilities and, after searching for help, realized it did not exist.,” said Julie Duty, Founder and Executive Director. “This grant will enable us to provide inclusive music education opportunities to even more students in Arizona, breaking down barriers and fostering social change through the transformative power of music.”
This grant is part of the Spring 2024 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.