String Theory: More Than Just Music When a child first draws a bow across violin strings or plucks the strings of a cello, something remarkable happens. The string vibrates in perfect mathematical patterns—standing waves that create not just beautiful notes but launch a parallel process of transformation within the young musician's developing brain. Research conducted by USC neuroscientists has shown that music instruction accelerates brain development in young children, particularly in areas responsible for processing sound, language development, speech perception, and reading skills. These findings reveal what Make Music NOLA's teaching artists witness daily: string instruments create vibrations that quite literally reshape a child's neural pathways.

Mission - To give the children of New Orleans the keys to claim their musical heritage and the tools to build their creative legacy through music education. Vision - A New Orleans where young music students are valued and celebrated as central and essential participants in the civic and cultural landscape of their city.