Grant Request The Front Porch
Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form
Organization Name: The Front Porch
Legal Name (if Different): Front Porch C’ville
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 221 East Water Street
City: Charlottesville
State: Virginia
Postal Code: 22902
Main Phone: 434-806-7062
Main Fax: N/A
Organization Website: https://frontporchcville.org/
Employer ID Number: 47-4040467
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)3
Proposal Information
Today’s Date: 3/31/23
Requested Amount: 10,000
Project Title: Roots & Wings
Project Description:
Through Roots & Wings (R&W), Front Porch teaching artists help preschoolers and elementary students grow joyfully through music, developing socio-emotional skills while addressing income-related disparities in arts and academic outcomes. Each week, we teach free music lessons to 187 preschoolers (90% of whom qualify for free/reduced lunch based on family income) and 221 elementary students (50% qualify for free/reduced lunch). These classrooms do not have dedicated music programming.
There is a stark academic divide in City Schools. Data shows that in 2021, 41% of economically disadvantaged third graders in Charlottesville passed reading comprehension exams, vs. 63% overall. The same was true in math (35%, vs. 56% overall) and science (32%, vs. 54% overall).
Studies demonstrate that students from who took music lessons in early childhood increased their test scores significantly compared to non-music students, up to 40% in several subjects. Children’s brains develop faster through music training. Self-expression and social development are improved. For children who speak English as a second language, music is crucial in language development and comprehension. R&W helps address the broader academic disparities while providing joyful and energetic music lessons for children who wouldn’t typically receive them.
Specific learning goals for R&W students include demonstrating musicality in three ways: through being 1.) tuneful – identifying melodies and learning to coordinate their voices to sing them; 2.) “beat”-ful (rhythmic) – feeling the pulse of music and how that pulse is grouped in beats of 2s or 3s; and 3.) artful – acknowledging and expressing emotional responses to music.
We measure students’ skills three times per year through observational assessments of a standardized lesson, measuring their ability to keep a rhythm, memorize lyrics to songs, follow dynamics of pitch, learn musical vocabulary, and more. We assess the success of our program and identify areas for improvement through qualitative surveys distributed to teachers and administrators. These surveys continually demonstrate a positive impact of R&W on student engagement, energy, and focus. Notably, classroom teachers have been able to use exercises and skills from our programming to help with classroom management and transitions outside of music class.
We plan to add seven preschool classrooms in Albemarle County in the fall 2023 semester. We are respectfully requesting a $10,000 grant to support R&W in 23 preschool classrooms and 6 YMCA after-school programs in 2024.
Total Project Budget: $91,350
Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): National Endowment for the Arts, BAMA Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Robert and Joseph Cornell Memorial Foundation, J&E Berkley Foundation.
Project Duration: Year round. "Roots & Wings" follows the semester schedule of the local public schools. We are seeking funding for the 2024 Spring and Fall Semesters of our program.
Geographical Area Served: Central Virginia: Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and continuous counties.
Age Group To Be Served: Preschool to fourth grade (ages 3-10).
Contact Information
Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Eli
Contact Last Name: Ratzlaff
Contact Title: Development Manager
Contact Phone: 434-466-6110
Contact Email: eliratzlaff@frontporchcville.org