Education Overview

The New York Pops Education Programs serve thousands of children every year. Since the inception of the first education programs in 1990, more than 25,000 children have been touched by the magic of music. That’s no small feat in a time of budgetary crises and cutbacks in art education. By increasing young people’s awareness and understanding of the music-making experience, The New York Pops Education Programs both build audiences and train musicians for the future. Working with the New York City Public Schools and youth organizations, The New York Pops provides children with free music lessons, free admission to rehearsals and concerts, and free classroom programs designed to spark the creative potential within every child.


Each of our 7 unique programs offers our school partners and students a distinctive music making and listening experience. Here is a brief look at New York Pops Music Education:

  • Create a Symphony teaches students how to compose original music through non-musical means.
  • Rhythm, Rhyme & Rap shows students how to build their own percussion instruments, form ensembles, and create raps on subjects they are studying in school.
  • Rockin’ the House brings musical expression to pediatric cancer patients and their siblings living at the Ronald McDonald House of New York City.
  • Musical Mentors enhances public school music programs by assisting a school’s music teacher and coaching students on their instruments.
  • Kids in the Balcony provides free tickets to 1,500 New York City school children to attend New York Pops concert at Carnegie Hall.
  • Salute to Music provides free group music lessons to over 100 middle school students from all five boroughs and gives 20 students the opportunity to perform with The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall.
  • New York Summer Music Festival - Pops Scholarship sends five exceptional students on a 2 week-full scholarship to the New York Summer Music Festival.

The New York Pops Education Programs are sponsored in part by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Friar’s Club Foundation, Goldman Sachs, McInerney Family Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts.

To contact The New York Pops Education Department, please e-mail:

Education Director
Dr. Sherrie Maricle
Phone: 212-765-7677
   
Education & Marketing Manager
Joanne Winograd
Phone: 212-765-7677