Music In Schools Today is fortunate to have the support of many celebrities, legislators, educators, and community organizations. Below are a few people who have expressed support and appreciation for the work we are doing.

Endorsements from Celebrities

"MuST, keep fighting the good fight!" ~ Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day

"My family has supported Music in Schools Today since its early days. I am honored to have been chosen as a role model for our youth today. My advice to young people aspiring to be musicians is, do everything you do with heart." ~ Carlos Santana

"Music education should be an essential part of everyone's life. I'm happy to support the programs that Music in Schools Today provides for thousands of young people all across the country." ~ Joe Satriani

I am writing to endorse Music in Schools Today's work to promote music's role in helping young people to value other cultures and the healing power of music. I've had the pleasure of working with several of your artists, and am impressed with the knowledge, technique and energy you all bring to this important work. ~Mickey Hart

Mickey Hart at MUST's Save School Arts Rally in 2006

Endorsements from Educators

Dear Meg,

Thank you so much for the many music in education resources you have brought and continue to bring to the Ravenswood City School District. As you know, the original district plan does not include music, and with your help, we wish to address this critical need.

Thank you for the position paper for the whole district change through the arts, which you wrote at my request. The program will address issues of equity, cultural diversity, access and excellence with a maximum number of highly effective services at a minimum cost. It has been ratified by the teachers and Board of Education.

Your donation of roughly $400,000 worth of musical instruments beginning in 2001 is deeply appreciated. Thanks again for providing vision, skill and persistence in a truly collaborative fashion, helping Ravenswood to build from its strengths and connect to the larger community.

Maria M. De La Vega, Superintendent
Ravenswood City School District
East Palo Alto

Meg, on behalf of the students and the District, I want to thank you and the Music in Schools program for all you have done to support our music program. Without your help, there would still be some middle school students in band without an instrument. Given an overall decline in student enrollment this school year, the District will be consolidating schools for next school year and assigning 7th and 8th graders to the new 7-12 secondary school. Unlike the typical complaint about categorical dollars not following students, in this case, the musical instruments will be following our 7th and 8th graders. Many thanks again!

Henry Der
State Administrator for Emery Unified School District
Emeryville

Everybody has been so happy with how well this semester has worked out. We should talk soon about how we can increase the length and depth of the program next school year.

Willem Vroegh, Principal
George Peabody Elementary School
San Francisco

Endorsements from Community Organizations

Everyone at MuST,

We wish to thank you for the generous donation of three guitars for JazzMasters Workshop. This will allow kids to participate in our Seaside Boys & Girls Club pilot program... and other workshops!

Warm regards,
Kimberly Hathaway and Bruce Forman
JazzMasters Workshop

Music in Schools Today is a pioneer, showing other arts educators what is possible. We are thrilled that Michael Tilson Thomas has appeared on the MuST website as a role model. We look forward to expanding our participation.

Ron Gallman
Director of Education Programs
San Francisco Symphony

I have known Meg for the past 10 years, ever since I began a music survey for the Yale Class of '57 Music Project. She is the most instrumental person in public schools' music programs in Northern California. She's a real inspiration in the Bay Area.

Franklin P. Conlan
Yale Class of '57 Music Project

Endorsements from Legislators

This invaluable organization is committed to the expansion of music and arts in schools and community centers. It also hosts a variety of music and arts programs and serves as a database of music-related resources. Through innovative programs such as Adopt an Instrument and Achieving Through Music, MuST has shown outstanding accomplishments in the proliferation of music programs and music appreciation to young people in the Bay Area.

Gavin Newsom
Mayor of San Francisco

I applaud the efforts of Bay Area citizens to promote Music in Schools Today and support your efforts to collect data concerning the emotional, social and intellectual development of young people and to infuse music into their lives.

Jack O'Connell
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction

It has been my pleasure to work closely with Music in Schools Today (MuST) over the years. Your leadership in the challenge to preserve and promote music education has been substantial in San Francisco Bay Area schools. Now with its Web site, I am pleased to see these services being offered nationwide.

Your ongoing efforts have been critical to continuing the important dialogue surrounding music education and music opportunities in the classroom setting and in the community. By working cooperatively with community leaders, educators and artists, you have shown an admirable dedication to this discussion. In addition, you have demonstrated a thorough understanding of current methods for maximizing educational opportunities and techniques for music education, which have helped you to establish successful music and arts programs in many schools.

Legislators, the business community and the voting public need to understand that their support of music and arts programs is critical. MuST performs a valuable service in advocacy. The hard data it gathers will continue to be effective in that fight.

I look forward to continuing working with you in the future, especially in bringing musical instruments and classes to as many children and youth as possible across the country. By working as you do with all members of our Bay Area community, as well as reaching out to provide support and guidance to grassroots organizations across the country, MuST will effect a positive transformation in American education.

~Nancy Pelosi
U. S. Congress Speaker of The House