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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jennifer Dayton, Director of Education at Midori and Friends
3:29:39
ยท
3 min
Jennifer Dayton, Director of Education at Midori and Friends, testified about the importance of music education and the work of her organization in providing music programs to students across New York City. She highlighted their NextGen Musician program, which combines music education with youth advocacy and leadership.
- Midori and Friends has served over 300,000 students in 33 years, many of whom would not otherwise receive music education.
- Dayton emphasized that music education is a right, not a luxury, and helps students find their voice and learn to listen to others.
- She called for continued commitment to ensure every school has a certified arts teacher, investment in instruments and facilities, and addressing transportation and access barriers.
Jennifer Dayton
3:29:39
Good afternoon Chair Rivera, Chair Joseph, and the committee.
3:29:43
Thank you for being here with me today and thank you for hosting this panel.
3:29:47
My name is Jen Dayton.
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I'm the director of education at Midori and Friends and I've been working in arts education for over the last decade across multiple cultural institutions across the city.
3:29:58
It's my honor to be with the students who are here with me today.
3:30:01
There were more, but they had to make it to their after school commitments.
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And I'm here to share what we do at Midori and Friends and to advocate for the arts alongside my colleagues.
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For thirty three years, our organization has serviced over 300,000 students, many who would not receive music education or instrumental programs at their schools.
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One of our flagship programs is NextGen Musician.
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It's a citywide youth advocacy and leadership fellowship for high school students across all the boroughs.
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NextGen is more than a music program.
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It's a way for high school students to come together across backgrounds, identities, and boroughs to speak about what they care about, what matters to them, and the change they wish to see or support to be continued.
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Whether it's mental health, immigration, access, equity, and education, each student chooses an issue that personally affects them and then creates an original music advocacy campaign inspired by that cause.
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They meet with local officials, they speak with their peers, they attend rallies and speak at the rallies, and they advocate for arts education within their districts, communities, and schools.
3:31:08
They're here today and they've chosen to be here to get an excusal from school to speak on behalf of their communities because they believe in the power of the arts.
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Music education is not a luxury, it's a right.
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It's essential, it's a safe space where students find their voice, they learn to listen to others, they see what's possible even when the world outside their classroom might tell them otherwise.
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Nearly 300 schools in our city lack a certified arts teacher.
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I've heard stories myself of music educators who have left or gone to different districts that have completely changed a student's life due to funding cuts.
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Many schools have little to no instruments, or if they have them, they need significant repairs or are in a closet not being used.
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Students travel long distances to make it to these music education programs.
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Despite these challenges, they show up, they create, they advocate, they connect.
3:32:00
Our students shouldn't have to fight for access to the arts.
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That's why we're asking for your continued commitment to ensure every school has a certified arts teacher.
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Invest in instruments, equipment, and facilities.
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Address transportation and access barriers.
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Support Midori and Friends' request for our new citywide music initiative that will help grow the NextGen program to bring students together across the boroughs.
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And most critically, listen to the students, let their voices guide us where our investments go.
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To close, want to share the words of one of our NextGen musicians.
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Music gave me a voice when I didn't know how to speak up.
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It helped me see.
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I wasn't alone and now I'm helping others to see that too.
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Thank you for your time today, for standing with us, for my colleagues standing with us as well, and for helping to advocate for the power of the arts.
3:32:51
Thank
Rita Joseph
3:32:51
you.