PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Tony Mazzocchi, Executive Director of Kaufman Music Center
2:46:01
ยท
125 sec
Tony Mazzocchi, Executive Director of Kaufman Music Center, testified about the importance of music education and the challenges in accessing it. He highlighted Kaufman Music Center's programs addressing inequities in music education and emphasized the need for investment in such initiatives.
- Kaufman Music Center serves 50,000 community members annually, including 5,000 students across New York City.
- The center runs programs like Special Music School, a K-12 public school, and the new Pathways program for low-income middle school students.
- Mazzocchi stressed the importance of quality music education in developing technical skills and fostering creativity, collaboration, and resilience.
Tony Mazzocchi
2:46:01
So thank you, chair Rivera, members of the committee, for addressing the critical topic of pathways in the arts and cultural workforce and for allowing me to testify.
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My name is Tony Mazzocchi, and I'm the executive director designate at Kaufman Music Center located in Lincoln Square.
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Kaufman Music Center serves 50,000 community members annually, including 5,000 students of all ages from across the 5 boroughs through programs like our concert hall, Merkin Hall, community art school, Lucy Moses, and the k through 12 public school, special music school.
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As detailed in my written testimony, which I provided, musical training remains out of reach for so many due to financial and structural barriers.
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While community programs provide exposure, the intensive personalized instruction necessary for advanced study is often prohibitively expensive with cost for lessons, instruments, and travel creating additional obstacles, particularly for students from underserved communities.
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The challenges of access to music education are compounded by a national music teacher shortage.
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The shortage presents an urgent opportunity by equipping young people, especially those from underserved communities, with the tools to pursue advanced musical training.
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We can fill that gap while preparing them for stable and meaningful careers.
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Music education not only develops technical stills, but as you know, fosters creativity, collaboration, resilience, etcetera.
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Quality is really critical to success in teaching and beyond.
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Kaufman Music Center addresses these inequities through innovative programs, special music school in partnership with New York City Public Schools provides free k through 12 music education integrated with academics for 300 students.
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Our new pathways program identifies motivated middle school students from low income backgrounds, providing free training, instruments, and transportation stipends tailored to their needs.
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This program's already shown great promise in its pilot year and will expand in the future.
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So by investing in initiatives like these, we can remove barriers, nurture talent Thank you.
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And Time has expired.
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Is accessible to all.
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Thank you.