MINNEAPOLIS — Listening to music can be calming or exciting.
Learning to play music can be challenging and fun.
But it can be expensive.
And one Minneapolis school is trying to make sure anyone who wants to learn can.
But that school, Hopewell Music Cooperative North, faced a big problem.
Online, the school founders issued a plea: Help us raise $50,000 or Hopewell Music will close.
After five days the school’s director of operations, Andrea Myers, said they hit their fundraising goal.
“We realized we had a shortfall of 50 thousand dollars. As soon as we found that out, we decided we were going to try to do it. It was a big goal and we felt like it was our duty,” she said. “Overwhelming in the best way. I can hardly keep up with people contacting us...”
That money will help pay teachers, purchase music stands, tune pianos and keep the lights in the school running for students like the Martinson family. The children, ranging in ages, said they love the school.
“[Music] is fun to do and if it closed down nobody would know how to play instruments,” Saul Martinson said who plays the trumpet.
His older sister and brother, Naomi and Robert, play the guitar. Another sister, Lucy, plays the flute. They all appreciate the teachers. For nearly eight years, the school has educated thousands of students. The founders say it is the only full-service music school in all of North Minneapolis and 68% of the students require full or partial scholarship.
Access to music education led to the creation of the school. It was a mission adopted by co-founder and program director, Ellie Fregni.
“I wanted to create a nonprofit that would reach everyone and if you couldn't afford music lessons that wouldn't be a barrier to participating,” Fregni said. “There is no chance that I would be here today if it wasn't for music lessons that I had.”
While the school reached its goal late this afternoon it will keep its fundraising page active until midnight. Any money above the goal will go towards maintaining the music program.
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