Music program for kids in need seeks donations from community

Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004 | 9:32 a.m.

The Music Exchange Program, an organization that provides instruments and music lessons to students living in the lower socioeconomic areas of Las Vegas, is asking for donations of new and used instruments as well as financial support.

Directors will be hosting an open orientation on the program at 4 p.m. Monday at the Doolittle Community Center, 1950 N. J St., for both students and community partners.

Several private sponsors, including the International House of Blues, the Tiger Woods Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of America, 100 Black Men of Las Vegas, the UNLV music department and Fitzergerald's Casinos already support the program, organizers said.

Because many extracurricular music programs are being cut from school budgets, the Music Exchange Program gives impoverished students the chance to learn, appreciate and even own an instrument, spokeswoman Lillian McMorris, with Your Resource, said.

Statistics show that children who listen to or play instruments increase their problem-solving abilities, their ability to do math and to memorize information, McMorris said.

The organization teaches music free of charge to more than 3,000 students in Southern Nevada.

Contact Pastor Oliver Garner, executive director of the Music Exchange Program, at 617-4759.