The MIDI Association and SAE Mexico are close to launching a free MIDI Curriculum on Coursera.
So now seemed like the perfect time to engage with some of the other non-profit organizations that support music technology and the GiveANote Foundation is a natural fit.
Supporting the next generation of creators by putting modern music-making tools—controllers, software, and recording workflows—into classrooms that need them most.
The MIDI Association is proud to donate $3,000 to Give A Note Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to music education—especially through innovative, culturally relevant, and technology-forward programs in underserved communities.
Why Give A Note Is a Natural Partner for the MIDI Community
MIDI has always been about access: connecting instruments to computers, apps, and each other so more people can create. Give A Note’s approach mirrors that mission by using music technology to attract new students into school music programs—often through non-traditional entry points like audio production, songwriting, modern band, and creative digital tools.
Give A Note’s own program overview emphasizes the role of music technology in making music education more accessible, and reports more than $1.5 million in direct funding to school music programs. Their impact reporting also highlights reach across hundreds of schools and tens of thousands of students.
A Quick History of Give A Note
Give A Note was established in 2011, launched with investments connected to GLEE and partners including the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), with an early focus on helping restore school music programs impacted by budget cuts. In its first phase, Give A Note awarded grants to schools nationwide through the “GLEE Give A Note” competition.
Over the following decade, the organization expanded into multi-year initiatives and programs that combine educator support, visibility, and direct resources—especially for communities where sustained funding is hardest to secure.
Programs That Put Music Technology to Work
Give A Note’s programs are designed to help schools launch or grow modern music pathways—where students can build skills that connect directly to today’s creative industries. A few examples:
- Music Tech Empowers – grants and professional development that support music technology instruction and help schools diversify music offerings.
- SongFarm Program – “Creation Stations” placed into traditional classrooms (including an iPad-based workflow, a MIDI keyboard controller, headphones/monitors, and a mic) to spark interest and seed a pathway toward a full music tech lab.
- Music Education Innovator Award – recognizing K–12 public school educators building inclusive, innovative models that keep students engaged in music as part of the school day.
“Access to music technology and production curriculum encourages student participation in school and provides a safe, inclusive environment…”
Meet Dendy Jarrett, CEO of Give A Note
Give A Note is led by Dendy Jarrett, a 35-year music industry veteran known for his passion for music education and his focus on expanding opportunity for every school. Jarrett’s background spans performance and multiple sides of the industry—including retail, wholesale, and manufacturing—giving him a practical perspective on how schools can adopt sustainable, real-world music-making tools and workflows.
How This Donation Helps
The MIDI Association’s $3,000 donation supports Give A Note’s work helping educators create modern learning environments where students can compose, produce, and perform using today’s tools.
When classrooms include music technology—MIDI controllers, software instruments, recording, and production—students who may not initially join band or choir often discover a creative “on-ramp” that feels personal, relevant, and achievable.
That is exactly the future MIDI was built for: empowering more creators, in more places, with more ways to make music.