With Mile of Music kicking off tomorrow, I have to say I am getting pretty excited.  I have always loved all types of music. Playing percussion in band as well as leading as a drum major were passions of mine in high school, and I am not one to turn down a free concert on a beautiful summer day or night.

With Mile of Music hosting more than 200 artists at over 50 venues through Sunday, there will certainly be plenty of incredible concerts to choose from!

I am particularly looking forward to the music education events.  Community Foundation Community Education and Arts and Culture grants will help make the events possible. I was thrilled to learn that there will be 36 of them (all free and family-friendly), more than double last year’s.

They are centered around music-making as a birthright that belongs to all of us, and I think that concept is what attracts me to the music education events. All ages and skill levels are highly encouraged to participate. Just a few of the events that intrigue me include Singing Picture Books, Bucket Drumming and Body Percussion, and Milestones: Life as a Musician, which gives participants the chance to interact with Mile 2 artists.

Additionally, Leila Ramagopal Pertl and Brian Pertl, music educator curators with Mile of Music, will be featured on this weekend’s Community Conversation, sponsored and hosted by the Community Foundation on The Avenue 91.1. They will discuss their passion for music education, as well as their excitement about this weekend’s events.  The couple is especially looking forward to Saturday morning’s Brass Band Jam, where community members are encouraged to bring an instrument, learn simple tunes, and play as a band!

To hear the conversation with Leila and Brian, tune into TheAvenue91.1 this Saturday at 7 p.m. and this Sunday at 10 p.m., or listen online at avenueradio.com/cc.  Also check out Leila’s article about music education from Sunday’s Post-Crescent.

Or better still, come down to Mile of Music and experience for yourself this schedule of wonderful music education events that are planned!  I know that’s where I’ll be!

Claire Baker is a UW-Madison student interning at the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.  Email her at [email protected]