THE J. W. PEPPER BLOG | DELIVERING MUSIC SINCE 1876

THE J. W. PEPPER BLOG | DELIVERING MUSIC SINCE 1876

THE J. W. PEPPER BLOG | DELIVERING MUSIC SINCE 1876

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Advocacy

Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute: An Inside Look

The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute was founded in 1939 by a middle school music teacher and has grown to include six divisions: Philadelphia...

How to Access CARES Act and ESSER Funding for Your Music Program

These are exceptional times. Schools across the U.S. are working to overcome enormous challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Music educators have the opportunity...

My Score Grants Help Composers Reach New Audiences

Pepper offers grants to diverse array of composer non-profit groups.

My Top 10 Reasons for Having a Children’s Choir

I will never forget to this day that special night my father drove me to our church in my hometown of Shelby, North Carolina...

“Deep Field”: Exploring the Connections Between Science and Music

Grammy-winning composer Eric Whitacre and the late “Mother of Hubble” Nancy Grace Roman had something in common when they were children: they both enjoyed...

Inspiring Our Youth: Music Programs That Celebrate Diversity

Aaron Dworkin says he did not know about many black classical composers before he went to college. Long before he was named a MacArthur...

Ways to Celebrate Music in Our Schools

What started as a single day of music advocacy by the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) back in March of 1973 has grown into...

How Music Education Benefits the Brain

Processing sound is one of the human brain’s most difficult jobs. The task involves multiple brain systems that need to be able to respond...

It’s Time to Celebrate Music in Our Schools!

What started as a single day of music advocacy by the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) back in March of 1973 has grown...

Music and the Brain

It’s no secret that taking part in musical activities has a significant positive effect on young people’s academic achievement. There are countless news stories...

Granting Three Wishes – The Schoener MusicMan Camp

A love of making music is ingrained in the culture of not only our nation, but the entire world. The evidence of that can...

Recruitment and Retention in the School Music Program

Much has been written about recruitment and retention for music programs.  With the uptick in access to social media, there are even more opportunities...

John Rutter: The Importance of Choir

Listen as composer John Rutter delves deeply into the importance of choir in all aspects of life.  He shares his own love of music...

Who’s in the Choir?

Why join the choir?  Well, for one reason, you'd be in some very good company.  Here's a rundown of some former choir members: Want to...

Band Camp: A Crash Course in Life Skills

For some, band camp has concluded and the school year is underway;  for others, camp is in full swing, complete with marching and maneuvering...

Meet Julius Brown and the Extraordinaires

Music teacher Julius Brown is making a big difference at KIPP, otherwise known as the “Knowledge Is Power Program.”  There are approximately 99 KIPP...

Here’s to You, Mr. Masterson

In an era where The Arts seem to play…ahem… “second fiddle” to other disciplines in our schools and communities, it's important we support educators by recognizing those...