Laurel Fontaine, 16, (left) and her twin sister Heather. When Laurel was 11 years old, she suffered a stroke that destroyed 80 percent of the left side of her brain. The singing therapy helped her regain the ability to speak. [Photo by Ellen Webber for NPR]

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Next August I'll embark on a year-long project that supports goodwill-driven organizations in every state in the U.S. and Washington, D.C. Along the way I'll support various music service initiatives including Music National Service and several El Sistema-inspired initiatives.

Please support this project! We need to raise $10K by Feb. 13, and I am working with groups around the country to organize the 51 sub-projects. There is a lot of scope for music service folks to unite!…

It is afternoon in hot and humid Zanzibar, the beautiful East African island off the coast of Tanzania. Derrick Rainey, 25, is teaching a music class. He came all the way to Zanzibar from his home in Little Rock, Arkansas to teach this class. On his…