MUSICAL FUTURES // Give a gift of musical instruments and education to impoverished children in Addis Ababa

ONLINE SUPPORT IN 2020

Well things are going to look different in 2020 for Instruments For The Outback but we are going ahead! Due to COVID-19 we are unable to physically get to our projects in the NT this year, but it doesn't stop us from being able to provide music education online!  We will be supporting our projects in the Northern Territory this year in the following ways:  - Providing online music lessons featuring pre-recorded content from our pool of professional musicians - Online workshops, video editing tutorials, sound editing/ mixing tutorials - Recorded devotions to support staff and students - Plus sending lightweight recording equipment / software to help build their studio resources  - Providing guitar strings, drum sticks, leads and other items that need replacing  We value your support so much and thank you for being part of the MusicGiveLife family!  - MGL Team

Confidence Grows In Ethiopia

We've got some great reports from our project in Addis Ababa! Over the past four years we've been working with The Lelt Foundation to provide musical opportunities to underprivileged children. The music program has brought so much joy and pride to all the students involved.  Lelt Foundation founder Anja Wood says, "I'm so amazed at the big impact it has had. It is truly a valued and respected class at the community centre." Instruments For Ethiopia partners with non-profit, locally managed organisation The Lelt Foundation, to provide musical instruments and music education to Ethiopian children living in Kare Kore, Addis Ababa. Their programs are designed to empower acutely impoverished families with tools to become sustainable. They focus on educational opportunities so that children can thrive and have access to employment opportunities later in life.  If you don't know the full story, Andy and I (Levi) travelled to Addis Ababa in 2015 where we sought an organisation working with children in the area of music. We kicked off our very first project which has to date seen $9000 AUD raised to purchase musical instruments, both traditional and modern, as well as provide expert tuition from a traditional music teacher who runs group classes each week.  Students are given opportunities to learn, engage with other students and perform for their community. They've found playing traditional Ethiopian music is able to bring them closer to their ancestors and families and gives them something to be proud of, which means a lot. In their current economic state they would often not have the opportunity to learn an instrument and receive professional tuition.  Partner with us this year as we continue to to support this wonderful project.  DONATE NOW Levi and Andy     

Message From Our Founders

Instruments For The Outback is back in 2019 with a passion to see kids making music in Outback Australia. This June we’re taking a team of professional musicians to remote parts of the Northern Territory, teaming with local indigenous musicians to roll out music programs for school aged kids.We’ll be running a week of instrumental workshops and recording sessions, all while learning more about indigenous languages, culture and traditions. At the end of the week we hold a special concert where the kids get to perform for the whole community, showcasing what they’ve learnt. It always finishes with dancing and everyone getting involved. We have an exciting goal for this year to produce an original song and video clip to share their unique music and language with the world. Join us as we raise $15,000 to get quality musical instruments, recording equipment and performing gear into Outback communities. Your support helps to foster indigenous music and supports young people living in remote parts of Australia.

Hear This...

It just keeps on getting better. Now in our third year, Instruments For Ethiopia is thriving! We've just had an update from our partner organisation The Lelt Foundation and the progress our young musicians are making is incredible. Thanks to music teacher Dawit Fekadu, we have girls and boys learning traditional goat skinned instruments like the Krar, made from a pumpkin shell and and played in a similar style to a harp. In the latest video update we were surprised to see they can already play and sing - which for anyone who has learnt an instrument will know - is not an easy task!  Earlier this year our talented students participated in the Virtual Orchestra Project, a global online collaboration featuring music students from across the world. What an opportunity for the kids to see and hear music from other cultures! Check out the virtual performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA92PJdCQkU&feature=youtu.be    

Thanks To Our Sponsors

Well, we've just got back from our second Outback Adventure running music workshops across the Northern Territory. Without the support of our sponsors we couldn't take beautiful instruments with us. This year they provided guitars, keyboards, amplifiers and a PA system that will help local music teacher Roger Latham reach hundreds of indigenous school students and communities as they take part in his music campsite in Woolaning NT. We had the chance to take some of these instruments into Batchelor Area School for a day of workshops and music making with the students there and we see the desire of kids to learn music. So today we say thanks to YV Financial Services for their generosity in providing musical instruments and accessories to support indigenous communities in NT!  https://www.yvfinancialservices.com.au/ https://www.musicgivelife.org