The goal of the Instruments A Comin' program is to increase youth participation in the Greater New Orleans area school music programs by providing new instruments. Instruments A Comin' is an ongoing program in its seventh year and has purchased over 1.3 million dollars worth of instruments for over 1,500 students in 39 schools. We are in the forefront of insuring that music programs are available in public or charter schools as they reopen and continue to open anew in the Greater New Orleans area.

Most schools in New Orleans are in need of instruments; however, the schools Tipitina's seeks out are guided by exemplary band directors. Upon selecting a recipient school, the Tipitina's Foundation works closely with each band director, who is ultimately responsible for the success and improvement of the school's music program. Our foundation has played and will continue to play a leading role in assisting band directors throughout the area by providing necessary resources to their schools. Instruments are purchased by our Foundation at a deeply discounted rate from New Orleans Music Exchange, a local musical instrument vendor, and Jupiter Band Instruments. The discounted cost of each instrument allows the Tipitina's Foundation to leverage its purchase to increase the total number of instruments donated.

The Tipitina's music venue hosts the annual Instruments A Comin' fundraising event; a benefit concert, auction, and cultural fair held on the first Monday night of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Proceeds from the Instruments A Comin' fundraiser will benefit as many New Orleans public and charter schools as possible based on dollars raised. While we have restricted in the past our instrument donations to upper and some middle schools, we will now open our contributions to any schools that have the need and will put the instruments to good and immediate use in either bands or orchestras. The need for school instruments is extensive and the foundation's fundraising efforts continue year-round.

The Tipitina's Foundation is a proactive advocate for saving music programs in schools and we continue to take the top leadership role in not just talking about these needs, but addressing them.

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Schools who have received assistance from the Tipitina’s Foundation’s Instruments A Comin’ Program.

Alcee Fortier • Alice M. Harte Charter • Audubon Montessori • Bauduit Elementary • Behrman Elementary • Ben Franklin High School • Booker T Washington High School • Carver High School • Cohen High School • Edna Karr High School • John Ehret High School • John F. Kennedy High School • John McDonough High School • John Q. Adams Middle School • Joseph S. Clark • KIPP Believe • Lake Forest Elementary Charter • Lusher (Old Fortier Campus) • Lusher (Robert Mills Extension) • Marrero Middle School • Martin Luther King, Jr. • McDonogh #32 • McDonogh #35 High School • McMain High School • New Orleans Science & Math High • O. Perry Walker High School • Reed High School • Riverdale Middle School • Robert Russa Moton Charter • Singleton Charter School • Sophie B Wright Charter • St. Augustine High School • St. Rose Elementary • Stella Worley Middle • Thurgood Marshall High School • Trist Middle School • Warren Easton High School • Woodson School • Xavier Prep High School •

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The Tipitina's Foundation seeks interested parties to enhance the net yields of Instruments A Comin' with matching grants, in-kind contributions, and cash donations.

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Instruments A Comin’ would not be possible without the cooperation and support of Jupiter Instruments, DHL and New Orleans Music Exchange.

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Previous Instruments A Comin' Benefits:

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002