There’s nothing better than cracking open a cold one and listening to great music at your favorite local hangout. What if you could do this while also supporting music education in the local Toledo area community? Your opportunity to do so comes during Toledo Music Week, which will take place during the first full week of October. This event takes the participation of generous local businesses and combines it with their caring patrons to generate funds for BeInstrumental, an organization dedicated to promoting children’s access to music education for the betterment of their lives and the community.
Why give a hoot about BeInstrumental?
The non-profit organization calls Toledo home, and its main goal is to provide all children with access to music education. The organization's money goes to support children in music education by contributing to in-school and after-school music programs, tuition and scholarships to music lessons and band camps, and providing musical instruments to students who don’t have access to them.
BeInstrumental firmly stands behind the idea that music education provides better lifelong learning for children and that music participation contributes to disciplinary principles; music also serves as a great creative outlet. BeInstrumental exists because not all children or schools have the resources to participate in and/or maintain these beneficial music programs, and they want to change that.
Since the Glass City is known for its passion for arts and creativity, it is hard to argue with the driven goals of BeInstrumental.
What the heck is Toledo Music Week?
Toledo Music Week takes place from October 4th through October 10th. This week long fundraising event requires the participation of businesses and citizens of the Toledo area. Each participating establishment during the week will have live music to entertain customers and portray the spirit and goals of the music education organization.
Helping out is easy: just kick back and listen to the music at one of the participating venues and buy a 16 oz. can of Labatt Blue or Labatt Blue Light, and a part of the money goes to BeInstrumental to support music education in the community. Honestly, there’s no losing here.
Where can I crack one (or two) open?
Several local establishments will be participating during the weekly event. One of those venues is Ye Olde Durty Bird (2 S St. Clair St.). The gastropub is looking forward to participating in the event because of their already prominent involvement in local music education and children’s musical involvement.
KC Saint John, Ye Olde Durty Bird’s Assistant General Manager, said, “We are highly involved in the Toledo School for the Arts (TSA) and want to make it and Toledo a better place. We’re one of the most diverse stages in town and have TSA students play on our stage.”
The eatery was then approached by BeInstrumental to participate in Toledo Music Week because of their close relations with some of the organization’s members and their dedication to the music community in Toledo. This restaurant and music venue is always involved with the city and has a good foundation with causes like this one. Ye Olde Durty Bird likes to give opportunities to people and encourage music; they love that BeInstrumental and Toledo Music Week do the same.
However, Ye Olde Durty Bird is not the only philanthropic and community-oriented venue getting involved! The following is a current list of all participating venues:
Augies
Bar 145
Basin St. Grille
The Blarney
The Distillery
Frankies Inner-City
Luckies Barn & Grille
Ye Olde Durty Bird
Table Forty 4
5th Street Pub
Martini & Nuzzi’s
If you would like to support Toledo Music Week, you can also send an email to Dustin Wade at [email protected]
Toledo Music Week, October 4th-10th
419-297-6971 | www.toledomusicweek.com | www.beinstrumental.org
