Since 2008, Madison Music Makers has offered music instruction and performance opportunities to Madison's youth, regardless of ability to pay. Violin students have a Monday or Wednesday lesson and all students have Saturday afternoon large-group instruction and rehearsals. Teachers are professional musicians and the teaching facility is a professional music education venue located near Fish Hatchery Rd. and the West Beltline.
Fees are based on ability to pay. Instruments are provided. All 3rd-8th grade Madison area students are welcome.
Instruments taught are: violin, viola, cello, guitar, keyboard, and hand drumming. Music ranges from classical to pop to folk to fiddle.
Performances include local events such as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Dinner, Madison Schools Concerts, and twice yearly public gala concerts in venues such as The Middleton Performing Arts Center, UW Music Hall, Mills Hall, and the Stoughton Opera House. A variety of other performance opportunities are scheduled, as well.
Students are encouraged to attend a week-long summer day camp held Monday-Friday afternoons of the week following the final day of the MMSD school year.
Madison Music Makers is a wonderful community of families from many walks of life, that have come together through a shared belief in the value of the benefits that music education offers: focus, perseverance, self-confidence, and the joy of making beautiful music alone and in a group, to name a few. Many of our students have developed the skills to successfully audition to play with one of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO).
Music Makers sponsors a TEEN TEACHER PROJECT which gives middle and high school students the opportunity to learn to teach younger children. This part of our program has been made possible with funding support by the City of Madison, the Madison Community Foundation, and American Girl Fund For Children.