named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Education and Resources
Develops and distributes curriculum-aligned educational materials such as "wraparounds" and sheet music for teaching iconic Tin Pan Alley songs in classrooms, aligned with NYC's Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Music.
Hands on History After School Program
After-school program for grades 2–5 introducing students to Tin Pan Alley's history, songwriting, music publishing, and the intersection of commerce and music.
Magic in Music
Weekly class for people with mild memory loss and early-stage Alzheimer's disease, using music and cultural history to support cognitive function, mood, and socialization.
Sing Out, Reach Out
Weekly intergenerational singalong sessions for senior citizens, including those in memory support units and community centers, often joined by children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Tin Pan Alley Mapping Project
Interactive digital map exploring the entertainment boom and migration of music culture through Manhattan from 1880 to 1940, using historical sheet music data.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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History Education Curriculum Development 1 activity
- Development of curriculum-aligned educational resourcesCreates and distributes educational curriculum units and supplementary materials aligned with school standards, using Tin Pan Alley songs to teach American and New York history. These include SEL- and CRSE-connected lesson plans and digital resources developed in partnership with the New York City Department of Education.
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Musicological Research and Scholarly Editions 1 activity
- Historical research and publication on Tin Pan AlleyConducts and publishes original research on the history of Tin Pan Alley, including a detailed compiled history based on work by the Historic Districts Council and Michael Minn. Also created an interactive map tracing Manhattan’s entertainment migration from 1880 to 1940 using songs from the Lester Levy Sheet Music Collection.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Interactive music and history education programs for childrenOffers after-school programs and hands-on workshops for children in grades two through five that explore the history of Tin Pan Alley, local Chelsea neighborhood history, and historical building preservation. Includes interactive experiences simulating the sound of multiple pianos to illustrate the origin of the term 'Tin Pan Alley' and encourages students to write their own songs and dances.
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Live Music Performances for Seniors and Isolated Populations 1 activity
- Intergenerational and community music programmingHosts weekly intergenerational singalongs for seniors in assisted living facilities and community centers, involving children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Also conducts interactive family sing-along workshops featuring classic American popular songs such as “Come, Josephine In My Flying Machine,” “Ballin’ the Jack,” and “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”
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Historic Site Designation Advocacy 1 activity
- Preservation of the Tin Pan Alley historic districtMaintains and advocates for the preservation of the historic Tin Pan Alley district in New York City, including securing landmark designation for five buildings on West 28th Street. The organization recognizes the area as the birthplace of American popular music and works to protect its 19th-century buildings.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Public concerts and cultural events celebrating Tin Pan AlleyPresents virtual and in-person concerts, exhibitions, tours, and special events that celebrate the Great American Songbook and the legacy of Tin Pan Alley. Events include collaborations with Make Music New York, NoMad Jazz Festival, Poster House, and the Museum of the City of New York, featuring performances by artists such as Gabrielle Lee, Robert Lamont, and The Kidwell Sisters. Themes include music by women composers, African-American musical comedy, and composers like Harry Warren.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Commemoration and education on the legacy of American popular musicProduces educational programming and historical content that fosters appreciation for the origins of American popular music and the modern music business centered on West 28th Street. This includes presenting historical accounts from the Historic Districts Council and Michael Minn, conducting workshops on the cultural legacy of Tin Pan Alley songs, and teaching children about songwriting and music publishing.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$23K
Contributions & grants$13K56%
Program service revenue$10K44%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$7K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$51K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$51K
3 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +45.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- BRIAN LEVENSON — DIRECTOR
- DAVID BONDY — DIRECTOR
- EVE KAHN — DIRECTOR
- JERRY FELIX — DIRECTOR
- JOHN REDDICK — DIRECTOR
- MELANIE EDWARDS — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT LAMONT — DIRECTOR
- ROSANNE BRAUN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Historic Districts Council Partner — Collaborated on advocacy efforts to secure landmark status for Tin Pan Alley.
- Historic Districts Council Partner — Collaborated with the organization to compile historical research on Tin Pan Alley.
- Historic Districts Council Partner — Provider of historical research on Tin Pan Alley used by the organization.
- Historic Districts Council Partner — Recognized Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project as a recipient of the 2022 Grassroots Preservation Award.
- Hudson River Park Partner — Partnered with Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project on a free community event in Chelsea Waterside Park.
- Johns Hopkins University Libraries Data Services Partner — Collaborated with JHU Libraries Data Services team on the development of the Tin Pan Alley Mapping Project.
- Madison Square Park Conservancy Partner — Co-organizes the 2025 Holiday Tree Lighting event featuring live music.
- Make Music New York Partner — Co-presented a free public concert as part of a citywide music celebration.
- Make Music New York Partner — Collaborates with Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project to present a free concert celebrating Tin Pan Alley and the Great American Songbook.
- Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Government — Produced two Tin Pan Alley videos sponsored by MOME as part of New York Music Month Extended Play.
- Michael Minn Partner — Provider of historical and photographic content on Tin Pan Alley used by the organization.
- Michael Minn Partner — Used research and photographic materials from his "New York City" project to inform the historical content presented.
- Museum of the City of New York Partner — Presented a concert and storytelling event on the history of Tin Pan Alley at the museum.
- New York City Department of Education Partner — Collaborates with the organization to develop educational curriculum units using Tin Pan Alley songs.
- New York Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Government agency engaged in advocacy efforts by students to preserve historic buildings on West 28th Street.
- New York Life Chorus Partner — Partners in presenting live music performances at the 2025 Holiday Tree Lighting event.
- NoMad Jazz Festival Partner — Collaborated on presenting free concerts in the NoMad neighborhood of New York City.
- NoMad Jazz Festival Partner — Collaborates with Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project to present a free concert celebrating Tin Pan Alley and the Great American Songbook.
- P.S. 11 Partner — Host school for the Hands On History after-school program.
- Park Avenue Armory Partner — Hosted a benefit performance by TPA music-educator Robert Lamont and Gabrielle Lee in support of the Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project.
- Poster House Partner — Co-sponsors a sing-along event featuring Tin Pan Alley songs.
- Poster House Partner — Collaborated on a concert event tied to the "Act Black: Posters from Black American Stage and Screen" exhibition.
- Poster House Partner — Collaborated on a concert program exploring African-American musical comedy in conjunction with an exhibition.
- Poster House Partner — Partnering museum co-hosting events and exhibitions with Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project.
- Poster House NYC Partner — Collaborated on the first-ever Block Party event featuring Tin Pan Alley.
- Reach Out Arts Partner — Collaborates with Reach Out Arts to provide the "Sing Out, Reach Out" program for seniors.
- Society of Illustrators Partner — Co-presented the exhibition "Illustrating Tin Pan Alley: From Ragtime to Jazz."
- The Memory Tree Partner — Partners with The Memory Tree, a program of the Early Alzheimer's Foundation Inc., to offer the "Magic in Music" class for people with early-stage Alzheimer's.
- The West Side Festival Partner — Co-sponsors a sing-along event featuring Tin Pan Alley songs.
- Victorian Society New York Partner — Education Initiative partner that supported the Hands On History after-school class and the development of the Teaching Tin Pan Alley manual.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Cultural Heritage as Living Educationmethodology: experiential_educationBy using experiential and sensory-based education grounded in historic preservation and local sites, the organization fosters deeper public understanding of American popular music, because direct engagement with place and history produces more meaningful and lasting cultural literacy than passive learning.
- Cultural Storytelling as Historical Reckoning and Connectionmethodology: cultural_storytellingBy centering stories of underrepresented creators—particularly Black Americans and Eastern European Jewish immigrants—the organization connects audiences to the roots of American popular music, because narrative representation fosters empathy, corrects historical omissions, and makes cultural heritage more relatable and actionable.
- Intergenerational and Inclusive Cultural Engagementmethodology: intergenerational_inclusive_music_engagementBy designing participatory music programming that integrates children, adults, and diverse community members across age and ability, the organization strengthens cultural continuity and broadens access to American popular music, because inclusive formats increase relevance and deepen community investment in shared heritage.
- Public Performance as Cultural Preservationmethodology: song_pluggingBy reviving historical promotion techniques like song plugging and public concerts, the organization sustains the legacy of Tin Pan Alley, because live, accessible performance recreates the original ecosystem of American popular music and keeps it functionally alive rather than merely remembered.