You could say that a “sound of music” movement is tapping into an unchartered territory.
 

That territory is in classrooms of underserved schools and communities throughout the world. This movement is being led by one driven woman named Michelle Edgar. She is the founder and president of Music Unites, a world-changing non-profit that aims to bring music education to at-risk public school students around the world. And she says that Music Unites all started with a vision that she had to give underserved young people around the world the gift of music.
 

Michelle Edgar (last on far right) is the founder and president Music Unites, the leading non-profit aiming to bring music education to at-risk public school students around the world. She says that Music Unites all started with a vision that she had to give underserved young people around the world the gift of music. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Alfred)

“All along, I kept my initial vision in the back of my head,” she said. “I knew that when the timing was right, I would work to incorporate an impactful orchestra program — much like the El Sistema of Venezuela.”
 

Since she started the non-profit in New York six years ago, it has expanded and now helps provide free after music programs to young people in Chicago and in Los Angeles. Additionally, through the program, students are able to attend special monthly workshops; take field trips to Spotify, Facebook, Google, and more; sit in on panels about the music industry; take master classes to help them hone their talents; take part in performances; and meet various successful musical greats, like Swizz Beats, John Forte, Sting, Gary Clark Jr., and more.
 

Edgar said she and her team structured the program in this way so that students would be able to broaden their horizons on the opportunities that exist through pursuing music in higher education and in the music business. She also hoped that the structure could help students to leverage their musical talents across various genres.
 
 
 

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One of program’s success stories is Kyle Alfred. He told RIZZARR that he was one of the first students to take part in the program and that it has changed his life in more ways than he could’ve imagined. “Growing up music was always something that I had a deep connection to,” he said. “Statistics may suggest that a young man from the neighborhood that I am in wouldn’t grow to be much. With limited resources and connections to funding “outlets” aren’t always positive escapes. When I enrolled into high school I was dismayed to find that the one and only music program in the school had been terminated due to budget cuts. Music Unites came along and provided a positive outlet for me.”
 

And the impact that Music Unites has had on Alfred doesn’t end there. Not only was he the valedictorian of his high school graduating class, but he was also accepted into the Clive Davis School of Recorded Music at New York University.
 

Music Unites former student Kyle Alfred poses with music producer Swiss Beatz. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Alfred)

“I am a firm believer that Music Unites has played a large part in my achievements,” Alfred said. “It has also exposed me to so much of the industry that I hope to be a part of. From working alongside Swizz Beatz, Michael Zackarin, D.A. Wallach and Danja to helping inspire other kids from different walks of life, Music Unites has definitely changed my life for the better.”
 

And it’s this change that Edgar said she hopes to continue to generate throughout the world. She has even been recognized for her efforts. She’s been featured in many media outlets, including Fast Company and The Huffington Post, and more. It’s her passion for music and her drive to help others that made us here at RIZZARR want to share her story with you. Enjoy!
 
 
 

RIZZARR INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE EDGAR

Music has always been my life. Knowing the power of music through my background as a pianist, I wanted to provide the same opportunity for kids who do not have the same access and support in their schools. I wanted to have an outlet for them to express themselves, to enjoy music and also more importantly, to have a place to go to where they can learn about the music business. What we do is not just an after-school program, but we also provide students with artists and leaders in the music business. It shows our students that nothing is far off, if you are dedicated and discipline yourself.
 

Edgar: “I think it’s important to show the kids different paths in the music business, and I think it’s important for them to have teachers and mentors who can provide them with insight to inspire them.” (Photo courtesy of Kyle Alfred)

We have several programs in New York, ranging from choir to production programs. In L.A., we have an orchestra. We have a teacher who teaches the program. Each month we take the students on a music field trips to different industry leaders so that they can learn more about how they can use their talents. We visit companies, like Google, to learn about YouTube and the digital space where music is heading; we go to different recording studies, like Paramount Studios; and we also go to various performances. I think it’s important to show the kids different paths in the music business, and I think it’s important for them to have teachers and mentors who can provide them with insight to inspire them.
 
 

It’s personally changed my life by the numbers of students who we have been able to inspire. I have mentored a handful of kids along the way who have changed my life. It’s amazing how many of the students who have graduated from our program and are now passing along the inspiration to younger generations as volunteers for the organization. It’s like the gift that keeps on giving. It’s taught me a lot about my passion in music as a teacher and as a leader. It’s also taught me about the importance of impacting people’s lives through music. It’s probably the most rewarding experience to me. It continuously teaches me new things about my students as well as how to best teach them about music to get them excited about not just becoming a better musician, but also about the music business works.
 

Edgar: ” in many cases by performing and participating, they are developing their gifts and their talents even more.” (Photo courtesy of Michelle Edgar)

We work in Compton, California and the Bronx to acquire that students from different underserved boroughs in order to serve communities there that need support. It gives many underserved kids something that they can look forward to and ideas of what they can inspire to. Those aspects are really important to our organization. We hope that through mentorship, we can show them that anything is possible. I was privileged to go to music school and to go to music festivals around the world. My parents were big into developing my musical gifts. But, even though I went to Manhattan School of Music and Northwestern, no one taught me about the other opportunities you could have in the music business. I think creating the right after-school program that provides them with exposure to the business is a powerful model that opens kids eyes up. I think giving them the opportunity to also perform with industry leaders also gives them insight and inspires them. The kids recently performed for the legendary British rock band the Zombies and they were very excited about it. By performing and participating, they are developing their gifts and their talents even more.
 
 
 

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There are three particular students that come to mind: Kyle, Candace and Anton. They were in the program since day one. They were in the first choir that we founded and now two of them are at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in the New York area and another played at a benefit we had this past June in Los Angeles. I have watched them become the young leaders that they have grown into and the talent that has unfolded is remarkable. They have been amazing and have come on as volunteers to help him teach the kids. The mentorship and the evolution of being a leader and a teacher is at the core of what we do. To watch their skills grow and to watch them grow over the years have been the biggest blessings.
 

Pictured are students participating in Music Unites Guitar Program to enhance student’s understanding of the guitar and musical performance. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Alfred)

A lot of our schools do not have a music program or are lacking the instruments or teachers needed for the kids to learn. I think it is important to raise the awareness of what music and art provide can provide in a curriculum since they are always the first things to be cut from a school’s budget. We need to show what music can do for kids and how it impacts all of their core studies. There have even been different statistics that have shown that music helps kids with being disciplined and has improved other areas of their work. Music plays a huge role in building communities and in building leaders. I know from my own personal life what it has done for me and I want to share its power with others.
 
 

Any help that they could provide would be fantastic! They can help by simply spreading the word or by donating to our organization. They can also help by telling school officials about our programs or other people who might be able to help with donating to Music Unites and developing our programs even more. People can also get their companies involved by telling them about how they can work with us to develop programs to serve their local communities. It’s really the grassroots approach to spreading the word that will help us.

Edgar (pictured on far right): “It’s amazing how many of the students who have graduated from our program and are now passing along the inspiration to younger generations as volunteers for the organization. It’s like the gift that keeps on giving.” (Photo courtesy of Kyle Alfred)

My future goals are to really take Music Unites to the next level and to get the word out about it even more. I hope to raise the necessary funds so that we can have a team that works full-time to impact the lives of students in schools throughout the nation and globally. I want to make this a global movement that will provide music education to schools that really need it in our country. Music is always the first to go and it shouldn’t be. We’re hoping to change that.
 
 

To find out more about Music Unites or how you can donate and contribute to its mission, click here.
 

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