Immersive Music Challenge

We are challenging high-poverty schools to implement music-based mentoring programs to boost reading & math achievement, and improve the health of children & communities.

THE PROBLEM

In 2019, only 37% of U.S. 12th graders could read proficiently; only 40% were proficient in math. Poor reading and math comprehension limit a student’s ability to learn, to earn, and to effectively parent future children of their own. Poor reading and math skills underlie every form of social inequity. The pandemic made things worse; it led to widespread learning loss and increased students’ anxiety, depression, and social isolation, putting our students into crisis.

How can we give our students the support they need?

THE BOLD SOLUTION IS MUSIC-BASED MENTORING THROUGHOUT CHILDHOOD

HERE ARE THE FACTS

Music-based mentoring significantly improves language-related brain development and literacy in elementary-age students.

Students who participated in music-mentoring achieved significantly higher standardized scores in English language arts (+26 points) and math (+17 points).

Participating students with the lowest prior achievement showed the greatest gains (+39 points, English; +33 points, math).

See: Holbrook, et al (2022), Music-Based Mentoring and Academic Improvement in High-Poverty Elementary Schools, Journal of Youth Development

PRACTICE BUILDS COMPETENCE
AND CONFIDENCE

Music instruction + mentoring, multiple days per week,
enables students to overcome the challenges of
learning to make music - together with their friends.

THIS IS NOT SHORT-TERM MUSIC INSTRUCTION

Builds positive relationships and community.

Develops accountability, cooperation and responsibility to one another.

Fosters leadership; students become mentors to less advanced peers.

Improves children’s brain development, literacy and academic achievement.

JOIN OUR MISSION

The D'Addario Foundation will help school districts and charter systems throughout the country implement effective music-based mentoring programs.

EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION

Step-by-step preparation and implementation guide, site visits, video training modules, and school district consultants help schools build public-private partnerships to sustain effective implementation.

ADMINISTRATION

A team of specialists supports ongoing professional development and effective program operation with local implementation partners, fostering continuous quality improvement, student engagement, and success.

EVALUATION

Preparation, implementation, administration, continuous quality improvement, and key outcomes will be monitored and evaluated in collaboration with participating school districts or systems.

BE AN INSTRUMENT OF CHANGE

There is nothing more fundamental than education and mental health.
Invest in a solution that improves both. Support music-based mentoring in
our nation’s schools. Boost literacy, academic achievement, and positive social connection
for ALL our children through the power of music.

CONTRIBUTE

LEADERSHIP

Experts in the field of public health, music education, neuroscience, data evaluation and school district management have come together to support this challenge.

Margaret Martin, DrPH, MPH

will lead the Immersive Music Challenge, with the full support of the staff and Directors of the D’Addario Foundation. Dr. Martin is a UCLA-trained doctor of public health. She received the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2011 from President Barack Obama for founding Harmony Project, a high-performing D’Addario Foundation music program grantee. Dr. Martin has facilitated countless studies, including much of the research that inspired the Immersive Music Challenge, and has been a D'Addario Foundation Director since 2016.