Third Street Music School Settlement
235 E. 11th StreetNew YorkNY10003
212-777-3240212-477-1808

Program: MILES: Music Instruction on the Lower East Side After-School Component Year Started: 1980 Focus: Dance & Music Youth Served: 250 Ages: 5-18 Third Street Music School Settlement has been serving poor, minority and immigrant residents of New YorkÌs Lower East Side for over 100 years. MILES builds upon school-based programs run by Third Street, providing motivated youth with the opportunity to take small group music or dance lessons and to perform. Each October, students participating in in-school instruction can apply for the program, which involves an application and interview with each child and his or her parents or guardians. Students are then matched to an instrument or dance form and begin an 8-month program of weekly lessons. Each student performs at least three times over the course of the program, with special evenings when MILES students perform for parents and the community. Youth attend faculty recitals and have access to tickets for cultural events throughout New York City. From 30 percent to 40 percent of the MILES participants continue to attend the School and take small group or private lessons.