NCDC's music program is held only at Washington. Although Washington has a music curriculum like all other District 65 elementary schools, its budget is smaller and shrinking, Millendorf said. Washington was chosen for its racial and economic diversity and because NCDC did not run a program there. Sadler and Millendorf have previous experience giving music and theater lessons to children, but they said they have always wanted to do a program like this. Peter Webster, professor of music education and technology, endorsed music programs as critical for a child's education.
Music puts it in context.
It involves both the intellectual and the emotional. The program started out with 20 children on Thursday afternoons, but after moving to Wednesday, several students left because of busy schedules. Currently seven to nine elementary students attend the weekly program. The volunteers plan lessons and arrange for students from the School of Music to come and play their instruments. Afterward, the children are allowed to play with the instruments.