irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $10KInternational K-12 music training. Sequential music training provided to 250 students in Nairobi Kenya. Ongoing professional development and training for onsite teachers.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Futures Music Program
Post-primary music education for high school students in Kibera, offering instruction in recorder, saxophone, keyboard, percussion, and guitar, with opportunities to serve as teaching assistants.
Music in the Schools: Kenya
Ongoing music program in four primary/middle schools in Kibera, Nairobi, providing instrumental and ensemble instruction, leading to participation in national music competitions.
Music in the Schools: NYC
Weekly Teaching Artist-led instruction in recorder, percussion, ukulele, and violin for K-12 students in over 30 NYC public schools, incorporating multicultural music and culminating in school-wide concerts.
NYC School-Wide Musical Assembly Programs
Interactive musical performances for NYC schools aligned with cultural heritage months, including Hispanic Heritage, Black History, Women's History, and Arab American Heritage Months.
S'Cool Sounds Free Lesson Plans
Free online music curriculum for grades K-8 featuring world music, recorder and ukulele instruction, and culturally diverse units accessible to educators and families.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 6 activities
- Deliver music education programs to K–12 students in New York City and international partner sitesProvides hands-on music instruction through classroom teaching, after-school programs, and community events to thousands of K–12 students annually across over 30 New York City public schools and international locations including Nairobi, Kigutu, and Jordan. Programs include weekly instruction in recorder, ukulele, percussion, violin, and vocal arts, aligned with New York State Learning Standards and NYC DOE music curriculum.
- Offer thematic music units exploring global musical traditionsDelivers structured music education units that explore diverse global traditions, including Latin American stories, jazz and Black American music, Middle Eastern melodies, South Asian rhythms, and New York City’s musical heritage. Units incorporate storytelling, cultural exploration, instrument instruction, and ensemble performance using culturally diverse songs and rhythms.
- Operate long-term music education residencies in Nairobi, KenyaRuns music education programs in residence at four to six primary and middle schools in Kibera, Nairobi, providing ongoing instruction aligned with Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum. Includes classroom teaching, afterschool programs, ensemble development, and preparation for national competitions, with students winning first prize at the Kenya National Music Competitions consecutively from 2016 to 2019 and in 2023 and 2024.
- Produce and distribute free online music education resourcesMaintains a free online Learning Resources site offering videos, lesson plans, digital tools, and printable sheet music for recorders and ukuleles. Resources support teachers and students globally, featuring culturally diverse songs, instrument instruction, and activities using household materials to create percussion instruments.
- Provide music education for high school students through the Futures Music ProgramOffers continuing music education for high school students who graduated from Kibera primary schools through the Futures Music Program, launched in fall 2022. Includes general music classes and individualized instruction on recorder, saxophone, keyboard, percussion, and guitar during school breaks.
- Provide music-making programs for adultsOffers music-making programs for adults guided by teaching artists, including ensemble formation through participatory singing and playing. Features a jazz recorder curriculum covering 100 years of African-American musical history with works by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Miles Davis, and develops skills in improvisation, close listening, and rhythm.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Conduct professional development workshops for educatorsHosts professional development workshops for nearly 150 NYC educators and offers training nationally and internationally on repertoire, cultural traditions, and teaching strategies. Recent workshops include 'Queens of Sound: Trailblazing Women in Music' and 'Carnival Traditions Across the Caribbean,' featuring classroom-ready techniques and cultural content.
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Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
- Host music performances and school-wide assemblies celebrating cultural heritageOffers affordable musical assembly programs in NYC schools timed to cultural observances such as Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Women’s History Month. Includes live performances by teaching artists and follow-up lesson plans to extend student learning.
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Music Education Support 1 activity
- Provide musical instruments to students in underserved communitiesDistributes soprano recorders to students in New York City and full-range recorders to students in Kenya, including donations to five schools in Maralal, Kenya. Supports access to music education through instrument provision in both domestic and international programs.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Launch and sustain music programs in international partner communitiesEstablished music education programs in Kigutu, Burundi (2013) in partnership with Village Health Works, and launched “Songs for Syrians,” a music and dance program for Syrian refugee children in Jordan reaching several hundred children across four refugee schools.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$575K
Contributions & grants$275K48%
Program service revenue$300K52%
Investment income$250%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$547K
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$438K
Grants paid out$18K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$171K
Cash$171K
Investments$0
Liabilities$7K
Net assets$163K
Liquid reserves3.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +28.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louise Brooks | Executive Dir. | 20 | $79K |
| NINA STERN | Founder and Dir | 16 | $47K |
| DAVE ADEWUMI | Board of Dir. | 16 | $25K |
board members · 10
- ALISON PAVIA — Board of Dir.
- CAROLINE GIASSI — Board of Dir.
- JUSTIN NEUWIRT — Board of Dir.
- KARIN BROOKES — Board of Dir.
- KRYSTAL HAWES — Board of Dir.
- NANCY SNIDER — Secretary
- PETER FABER — Treasurer
- SARA STUART — President
- SUSAN PACE WEISS — Board of Dir.
- TONY ELITCHER — Vice President
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- African Women's Orchestra Partner — Collaborates with S'Cool Sounds on professional development workshops for teachers and teaching artists.
- Azraq Education and Community Fund Partner — Current name of The Syria Fund, partner in the “Songs for Syrians” program for Syrian refugee children in Jordan.
- Breaking Ground Partner — Partner organization providing supportive housing for formerly unhoused and vulnerable New Yorkers, collaborating with S'Cool Sounds to offer music programs for adults.
- Crossing Thresholds Partner — Collaborates with S'Cool Sounds to deliver music programs in four schools in Kibera, Nairobi.
- Crossing Thresholds Partner — Collaborates with S’Cool Sounds on ensemble programs in Kenya, including participation in the Kenya National Music Festival.
- Crossing Thresholds Partner — US-based partner organization collaborating with S'Cool Sounds to deliver music education programs in Kibera, Kenya.
- Dave Adewumi Partner — Teaching Artist who leads music units on jazz and Black American music.
- Evan Harris Partner — Teaching Artist who leads the "New York Stories" music unit exploring the city's diverse cultural communities.
- Facing the Future School (FAFU) Partner — Hosts S'Cool Sounds music education program in Kibera, Nairobi
- Health organization in Burundi Partner — Developed partnership to deliver music programs to children in Burundi through collaboration with a local health organization.
- Hery Paz Partner — Teaching Artist who co-leads the "Alegria: Musical Latin American Stories" unit with puppets Pepe and Tito.
- Joseph Jones Partner — SCS Teaching Artist who led a recorder residency and mentoring program at a public school in the Bronx.
- Juan Manuel Trujillo Partner — Teaching Artist who leads music units on Latin American stories and ukulele instruction.
- KICF Artistic Directors Robert Howard and Rebecca Merblum Partner — Partners with S'Cool Sounds to support student participation in the Kenya National Music Festival.
- Kibera neighborhood schools Partner — Implemented S'Cool Sounds music programs in six schools in Kibera, Nairobi, supporting student performances at national competitions.
- Mir Naqibul Islam Partner — Teaching Artist who leads the "South Asian Rhythms & Grooves" unit teaching traditional rhythmic cycles.
- Mobjap School (Garden of Hope) Partner — Hosts S'Cool Sounds music education program in Kibera, Nairobi
- NYC Public Schools Arts Office Partner — Collaborates with S'Cool Sounds to host professional development workshops and teacher celebration events.
- New York City Department of Education Government — Follows the NYC DOE Curriculum Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in Music.
- Nina Stern Partner — SCS Artistic Director and professional recorder player who developed Recorders Without Borders lessons and leads educator presentations and workshops.
- Organization serving Syrian Refugees in Jordan Partner — Partnered with an organization supporting Syrian refugees in Jordan to implement music education programs and facilitate transnational student exchanges.
- Ronnie Malley Partner — Teaching Artist who leads the "Ya Habibi" unit introducing music from the Middle East and North Africa.
- Ruaridh Pattison Partner — Teaching Artist who leads the "Recorders Without Borders" unit teaching recorder skills through global themes.
- The Center of Hope School Partner — Hosts S'Cool Sounds music education program in Kibera, Nairobi
- The Syria Fund Partner — Launched the “Songs for Syrians” music and dance program for refugee children in Jordan.
- Village Health Works Partner — Partnered to provide music education programs in Kigutu, Burundi, combining Burundian traditional music with Western music and literacy.
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.
- Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Music Educationmethodology: culturally-responsive-music-educationBy integrating global musical traditions and culturally engaged curricula into music programming, the organization nurtures cultural understanding, identity, and inclusion because students see themselves reflected in the curriculum and engage more deeply through storytelling and representation.
- Music as a Tool for Education and Social Connectionmethodology: music-for-education-and-connectionBy using music to inspire, educate, and connect children and communities through sequential training and educator development, the organization fosters engagement and learning because music serves as a universal medium that bridges cultural and educational gaps.
- Train-the-Trainer and Peer Mentorship Modelmethodology: train-the-trainerBy empowering music educators through professional development and creating pipelines for advanced students to mentor peers, the organization scales impact and sustains engagement because capacity-building multiplies reach and fosters intergenerational leadership.
- Universal Access Through Adaptive and Blended Programmingmethodology: universal-instrument-approachBy using accessible instruments, tiered arrangements, blended learning, and customizable programming, the organization ensures participation across skill levels and contexts because removing barriers to entry enables inclusive, sustained engagement in music education.