PING (Providing instruments for the Next Generation) believes all public school students should have access to instrumental music. With instrument rentals averaging $50 per month, many students miss out. PING has been supplying band and orchestra instruments to Oak Park and River Forest public school students for more than 25 years, but that is not all. “To offer true equity to young musicians, we have mentoring programs and access to lessons, music camps, performances, and trips for PING members,” said executive director Michelle Dybal. The NextNote Program, which is celebrating 20 years, supports middle school musicians. PING Partners supports new musicians in grades 4 and 5. In both programs, PING students are paired with mentors from Oak Park and River Forest High School who play the same instruments. PING pays for students to take private lessons and to attend summer music camps. These experiences improve confidence and have academic, social, and mental health benefits. Instruments remain important to PING’s mission. “The instrument inventory is primarily built from generous, incoming donations of used instruments received from the community, but there is a need for more, better-grade and different-sized instruments, along with accessories such as bows and cases,” Dybal said. PING’s largest revenue source is individual donors, and does not receive any monetary assistance from the three school districts it serves, D97, D90, and D200. Donations are needed now more than ever: pingoprf.org/donate. Questions/volunteer/donate an instrument, email: info@pingoprf.org
PING!
PING is a community nonprofit organization providing band and orchestra instruments, mentoring, workshops, and access to lessons, music camps, and trips to students who benefit from support that are in grades 4 through 12 in Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois, public schools. In a community with high-quality school music programs, PING students can be on par with peers regardless of their financial situations and feel like they belong. PING programming also brings diversity to instrumental music classrooms and beyond, providing access to some traditionally underrepresented populations.
Donations are needed now more than ever: pingoprf.org/donate. Questions/volunteer/donate an instrument, email: info@pingoprf.org
