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Growing up in West Virginia, Lily Chongswatdi regularly saw the disparity in music education opportunities available to her peers compared to those available to students in less rural areas. She sought to fix this disparity, and thus the Appalachian String Initiative was born. The goal of ASI is to dismantle systemic barriers that prevent students in the Appalachian region from accessing quality string music education.
Music Can Change Lives
Music Can Change Lives
Jose Antonio Abreu (NYT)
ASI is inspired by Jose Antonio Abreu's El Sistema philosophy that music can be a tool for social change, specifically to get children out of cycles of poverty, violence, and drug abuse
elsistemausa.org
El Sistema became a successful music program in Venezuela that provided free instruments and instruction to the country's vulnerable youth. It has since spread to other countries, including the US.
What is Appalachia?
What is Appalachia?
Appalachian counties according to ARC
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) defines Appalachia as an area made up of 423 counties across 13 states that spans 206,000 square miles, from Southern New York to Northern Mississippi with 26.6 million residents.
Appalachian Mountains (WV tourism)
The region is known for its natural beauty and rolling Appalachian Mountains. However, the region and its people have been persistently exploited of resources, creating cycles of poverty and drug abuse. Appalachian communities suffer from a disparity in resourses for education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Why Music?
Why Music?
Social Benefits
Social Benefits
Creating music in group settings encourages community building, teamwork, and belonging. A sense of belonging can help the emotional health of indivudals at any age!
Skill Development
Skill Development
Learning to play an instrument and make music develops skills such as self confidence, creativity, hard work, goal setting, and perserverance.
Academic Benefits
Academic Benefits
It has been shown that playing an instrument can increase a student's standardized test scores and class attendance.
Community Partnership
Community Partnership
ASI programming would not be possible without the support of the Hocking County Community Fund, the Morgan County Community Fund, the Morgan County Community of the Arts, Downtown Sound, First Presbyterian Church of Logan, Ohio, or the endless support of individual volunteers, teachers, and parents. Thank you to everyone who has invested in music education in their communities!
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