Transforming Education: New York City Public Schools Partners with Kaufman Music Center to Bring Music Immersion to Harlem

Tuesday, December 9th (New York, NY) - New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) and Kaufman Music Center today announced a new partnership to launch a new immersive music curriculum in District 3's P.S. 149 in Harlem, the SoTru Music School . In this unique program for incoming kindergarteners, music is treated as a core subject, equal to all other academic subjects, and a powerful catalyst for creativity, focus, problem-solving and personal growth. The program is completely free of charge for students' families.

A nationally recognized leader in music education, Kaufman Music Center will offer its expertise and guidance in developing the new program. The SoTru Music School will be modeled after another successful partnership between Kaufman Music Center and NYC Public Schools: Special Music School (M. 859), the nation's only K-12 public school prioritizing an intensive and musically focused education without financial barriers.

The SoTru Music School will be launched in the fall of 2026. Students will receive two private lessons per week on the piano, violin, flute or clarinet, offering children valuable one-on-one time with a musical mentor. In addition, students will study music theory and chorus during the school day. The curriculum is informed by the overwhelming and growing body of evidence that intensive music education is a powerful, proven catalyst for cognitive development and academic excellence for children of all backgrounds that has been shown to foster discipline, focus, time management, language skills and the development of a personal voice among many other skills.

Anthony Mazzocchi, Kaufman Music Center Executive Director, says , "NYC Public Schools sees the same possibility we do: music is a core driver of whole child development, not an enrichment. At Kaufman Music Center, we've seen that when music is deeply embedded into the school day, the students and the school are transformed creatively, social-emotionally, and academically. The launch of SoTru Music School at P.S. 149 is an exciting step toward a new vision for public education - one where every child has access to the transformative power of music from day one. We're proud to partner with the City at this pivotal moment."

Kamar Samuels, Superintendent of Community School District 3 , and Mariela Graham, Deputy Superintendent of Community School District 3, say,"The Kaufman Music Center Program at Sojourner Truth, P.S. 149, marks our commitment to academic excellence, artistic rigor, and student well-being. Music in public schools is not a luxury-it is a lifeline. This program will be a space where students don't just learn music - they live it, breathe it, and grow through it."

Families who are interested in taking advantage of this unique immersive learning program, which is open to incoming kindergarteners throughout New York City, are invited to learn about the curriculum and the expectations and commitments it will require at information sessions during the application period, which are listed HERE .

ABOUT KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER:

Established with the mission of providing access without barriers, Kaufman Music Center proudly programs a comprehensive musical experience for students, performers and audiences in New York and beyond. Merkin Hall, the Center's intimate performance venue, provides unparalleled access to today's most compelling artists, workshops and competitions, offering students, artists and audiences alike the chance to share music at the highest level. Its acclaimed Artist-in-Residence program also gives those performers the resources to develop groundbreaking, multidisciplinary projects as well as educational opportunities to mentor and inspire. Kaufman Music Center continuously cultivates and nurtures new generations of artists through Special Music School, the nation's only K-12 public school prioritizing an intensive, immersive and musically-focused education without financial barriers, as well as Lucy Moses School, Manhattan's largest community performing arts school for students of all ages.

KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER ON THE WEB

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

For More Information, Contact Shore Fire Media at

[email protected]