Dear Listener,

Last week WWOZ convened a group of passionate music educators to assess where we are in our obligation to pass on our enormously rich musical heritage to the next generation. The Federal Flood known as Katrina, of course, wiped out many of our neighborhoods, finished off our public school system (such as it was) and diminished our city by some 200,000 souls. At the time I despaired: with our musicians and our children gone, how would we ever keep alive our cultural identity? The stark possibility faced us that New Orleans would be reduced to a postcard experience of our glorious past. Disney-like re-enactments of our music culture were being proposed at the time.

Truth is, the public school board had already begun walking away from its role as cultural incubator in the mid-1990s, a decade before Katrina. Elementary school music programs were being shut down, and the ranks of our once-proud lineage of band directors were being diluted with teachers of questionable pedigree. For decades, being in the marching band was a mark of status higher than being on the football team. Now, band uniforms were being handed out to kids with pitiful music chops, just to march in parades.

But I had not considered that the roots of our music traditions were not institutional. They merely found a home there for a century or so. Somehow, somewhere, those African-turned-New Orleans rhythms began to spring up again, sporadically at first, in what remained of neighborhoods in the tough post-Katrina era. Individuals blessed with the authentic cultural DNA of this city—including, among many others, Derrick Tabb, Wilbert Rawlins Jr., and Dinerral Shavers—-stepped up against all odds to provide band instruction to kids. Others created music programs centered around libraries, coffee shops, summer camps, public parks, healing centers. And now the schools have slowly begun building back their programs.

However, until all our elementary, middle, and high school students have access to music instruction incorporating the rich vocabulary of New Orleans’ music traditions, and our children have meaningful programs in which to grow productively, we’ll be trading glockenspiels for Glocks, life for death, and a rich piece of our future for a very short-sighted present.

This is the message I took away listening to the music instructors who assembled last week enthusiastically planning their collaboration to make this city once more what it always has been: about the music! Won’t you join them and WWOZ as we explore the possibilities in the months to come?

Yours in treble clefs and plastic tonettes,

David Freedman
General Manager

WWOZ is concerned about what's going on with music education in New Orleans and the future generations of New Orleans musicians. We are pursuing several initiatives in this regard: we recently hosted a community forum on music education, and our Cuttin' Class series highlights middle and high school bands by broadcasting performances live from our studio.

We also want to find out about what's going on at your school, church or community music program. As part of our community journalism work with Insight New Orleans, we've put together an online questionnaire, so that you can tell us what you know. We need to know more about what's going on so that we can figure out more ways that we can help.

» Tell us what's going on at your school, church or community music program

» WWOZ Music Education Initiatives & News

June 30 marks the end of WWOZ's fiscal year, and every dollar helps. Your membership pledge brings the 'OZ groove to larger audiences, by funding projects like expanding our signal strength and keeping 'OZ streaming world wide on a variety of digital platforms. Even if you've contributed recently, consider making an additional pledge to help us start the next fiscal year in good shape. And as always, your donation is tax-deductible.

» Make your pledge to WWOZ now

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation is now accepting applications for Community Partnership Grants, which focus on educational programming, documenting/interpreting Louisiana's indigenous culture and presenting Louisiana artists by Louisiana nonprofit organizations. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 26.

 » Learn more about the NOJHFF Community Partnership Grants

So far this summer, we've celebrated Oysters, Creole Tomatoes, and Cajun & Zydeco music, and that's just in the French Quarter. It may be hot-n-sticky, but that just makes the music hotter. Check out some of the exciting music festivals happening in New Orleans and Louisiana this summer, including Essence and a ton of Zydeco!

» Summer Music Festivals

WWOZ has tons of pictures from events all year long on our Flickr page. Check out the recent Cajun-Zydeco and Creole Tomato Festivals, the latest episodes of "Cuttin' Class", and lots more.

» 'OZ's Flickr Photo Sets

Meanwhile, closer to home.... Over the airwaves or on your phone, the WWOZ Live Music Calendar is the best guide when you're looking to head out and enjoy some live, local music!

» WWOZ Live Music Calendar

This month's recipe, which comes to us courtesy of Liberty’s Kitchen, is a traditional New Orleans bread pudding.  The combination of rich custard, heady spices, and a sweet, sweet sauce make it the king of comfort food deserts.

» Recipe: New Orleans Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce