Laughing to support music education

The 2013 Leadership Burbank Class laughed while they raised funds for this year’s community project “31 Violins” to support music education in the local elementary schools, said class member Amy Albano.

More than 100 guests packed the Flappers Comedy Club in Downtown Burbank for the event on March 28.

“Specifically, we are hoping to buy 31 violins and music stands for Providencia and Roosevelt elementary schools, and any extra money we have will go in general to support the program,” Albano said.

The 25 members met at the beginning of the class year and were throwing out ideas, and somehow they homed in on this one, she added.

The goal is to raise more than $13,000. The group has already raised $10,000 and is hoping to get to $20,000, she said.

To contribute to the project, go to the website www.leadershipburbank.org/31violins.

After learning about the decline in music instruction, the class felt inspired to help expand the programs for more children to have the opportunity to learn music on the elementary level.

In 1992, Burbank Unified eliminated weekly elementary instrumental music programs, but in 2007 a general music program was developed for grades 2 through 5 that allowed students to attend classes twice a month.

Today, five elementary schools offer general music education, but only two — Providencia and Roosevelt — offer instrumental music instruction within the school day.

The Leadership Burbank 2013 Class wants to not only provide instruments, but to also increase instruction time, reduce music-class sizes, free up district resources and eliminate the financial burden from the district and schools.

For more on Leadership Burbank, visit www.LeadershipBurbank.org.

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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be contacted at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.