Music
Music for All!
The music program at the Milbank Arts Hub encourages immersive engagement in both an ensemble and group lesson environment. Instrumental and vocal classes are offered in multiple genres spanning from classical, to jazz, to rock-and-roll and hip-hop. Students can further their interest with online lessons, social media communication, field trips, performances and special events.
The Music Room at Milbank is designed to give young artists a safe and welcoming space to focus, explore, and discover their craft. Students work together in this inclusive environment where sharing ideas and positive critique is part of each session.
Guided by respected professional teaching artists, each student’s unique interests and abilities are molded in tailor-made lessons in a lively, hands-on, and easily accessible environment - whether in person, online, or a mixture of both.
What we offer:
Instrumental and Vocal Music Lessons
Professional teaching artists work with students in regular weekly group lessons on a wide variety of instruments - drums, violin, trumpet, clarinet, guitar, bass, voice, and piano, to name just a few.
Classes
Students of all levels are encouraged to learn how to create and interact with peers in a structured group setting alongside professional artists.
Dedicated Spaces
Students enjoy safe, dedicated, and well equipped spaces to focus on mastering their art.
High Expectations
From the top down, the music program promotes a thorough arts education with high expectations for each young artist.
Online Video Lessons
Over 100 lesson videos, breakdowns, tutorials, and rhythm tracks!
Performances
Regular showcase performances share the progress and achievements of the ensembles with the larger community.
Field trips
Students are encouraged through field trips to explore and interact with the world of music outside of the Milbank Arts Hub.
History
Initially started as a Suzuki violin program at the Drew Hamilton Center in Harlem, the Children’s Aid Music Program quickly grew to incorporate keyboard, singing, and a full range of horn, percussion, and string instrument classes, - and music theory classes and various ensembles soon thereafter. Its culmination at Drew Hamilton saw the emergence of a full-fledged jazz big band composed of more than 22 committed young musicians. Students worked diligently on music of jazz legends, classical composers, and even pop stars like Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. Concerts of note included performances at Manhattan’s El Museo Del Barrio, the renowned Radio City Music Hall, the prestigious National Arts Club, and even an appearance on local radio.
In 2011 the instrumental music program, seeking a wider student base, migrated to its current location, a significantly larger forum at the Milbank-Dunlevy site in central Harlem that services over 250 children year round. At Milbank, the program has continued to flourish with both group classes and ensembles performing repertoire from classical to jazz to rock and roll. By offering a tailored and flexible program to the ever-changing student body, students of all ages and grade levels have continued to be challenged, engaged, and inspired.
The benefits of a year round instrumental music program are vast and profound. Students are given the opportunity to connect with the arts through true discipline- concentrating, considering, communicating, and connecting- to reap the emotional rewards of individual creation, group performance, and community engagement and performances.
We look forward to continuing to nurture these vital aspects of exploration and growth in each young artist, and build a rich and resilient music community for everyone to enjoy.
Meet the Teachers
Baba Donn Babatunde
Baba Don Babatunde is a professional percussionist who has performed with many of the major American dance companies and is a featured member of the jazz group, Last Poets. His recording career spans jazz, rhythm and blues, and African derived percussion styles. At Children’s Aid, he specializes in teaching African Drumming and the diverse cultural rhythms of the Diaspora in the Americas.
Dane Alexander
Dane Alexander is a professional saxophonist and educator in the New York metro area. Having joined Children’s Aid in 2015, Dane has been an integral part of expanding the music program and pioneering online arts education at Children’s Aid.
Eric Ryan
Eric Ryan is a founding member of the instrumental music program at Children’s Aid. Having pioneered the Suzuki violin program and Jazz in Harlem, Eric has worked to expand the horizons of music and arts programming since 2007. Eric is a professional musician, educator, and digital recording engineer in Manhattan.