We Are Instrumental moves in to new home

TICONDEROGA | The second floor of 94 Montcalm Street is about to get a little more harmonious. We Are Instrumental (WAI) has moved in, marking the first official home base for the organization, as well as a new chapter for the rapidly growing non-profit. "Having this space gives us a place outside of the local schools to do what we do, which is really exciting," said Mike Iturrino, WAI's President and Director of Music at Ticonderoga Central Schools. WAI's mission is to improve accessibility to musical education for children in Northern New York by providing well-working instruments and dynamic enrichment opportunities. It's common practice for WAI to gather and repair neglected musical instruments, helping to meet the overwhelming need for instruments faced by children across Northern New York, regardless of how remote they may be or how limited their local school's offerings are. Since 2020, WAI has collected over 700 instruments and distributed them to 30 different schools. In their new space, a shelf is already chock-full top to bottom of more such instruments in need of a little TLC. But over the past few years, WAI has become so much more than instrument repair. The name and its clever play-on-words have become all the more significant. As funding in public schools for music education, especially in the Adirondacks, seems to be at a constant threat, WAI is working to ensure the needs of students are met. The infectiously enthusiastic energy both Iturrino and WAI's Executive Director and founder, Evan Mack, emit is undeniable. Both attended New York Fine Arts Leadership Training on WAI's behalf, and now comfortably inside their new headquarters, the gentlemen are expecting that the tremendous uphill trajectory WAI saw, especially in 2025, will continue. "By having a physical space here in the North Country, it makes things easier," Mack observed. "Not just here in Ti, but our ability to impact the entire Southern Adirondack area." The space at 94 Montcalm Street will allow for more intensive instrument repair training. In fact, Saratoga Springs instrument repair professional of over 50 years Bill Cole (who helped launch WAI's groundbreaking pilot program "Harmony Restored" that teaches area kids the lost art and craftsmanship of instrument repair) has been so inspired by the new space that he has already made the trip to Ti and built not one but two work benches that will be fully outfitted with all the necessary tools to refurbish and breathe life back into instruments. "That program has taken off like wildfire," noted Mack. "We bring Bill into schools to work with students and teachers, both now in instrument repair. In December, we went to Tupper Lake and Peru and fixed their entire fleet of trombones and trumpets. Moriah and Crown Point kids will be coming to repair camps for Harmony Restored next." Instrument repair has become a lost art, in spite of it being a highly specialized trade and viable career option. Iturrino said many students have already taken a liking to the skill set during WAI's annual Music Summits, and WAI now works with BOCES kids who excel in carpentry and mechanical work, introducing them to the career option as well. WAI's Music Summits that happen every fall are also expanding as each year passes. 2025 marked the third time that a minimum of 25 world-class musicians have visited North Country schools, Upwards of 400 students this past October enjoyed the opportunity to work with the professionals in developing their instrument skills with exercises in how to practice, sight reading techniques, tips on working through performance anxiety, amongst other necessary skills required to succeed in the field of music. "We will be in Willsboro next October, but on a Saturday because the Summits are getting so big," Iturrino revealed. Following the summit, WAI launches its Social Media Challenge, encouraging kids to earn points for their respective schools. Creating content centered around music, students in essence compete with other area schools, and the stakes are impressively high. "NCCS won this year, and they will be going to see STOMP at the Flynn Theater in Vermont, " shared Mack. "Three-quarters of the kids going have not seen a professional level show like that." And for WAI, musical exposure of all kinds for kids is everything. Walking into the new headquarters, beneath the vibrant blue logo sign on the far wall is a small army of woodwinds and brass instruments, gleaming in the light that filters in from the windows. This is the WAI "Petting Zoo," a collection that has toured all over the North Country. Thanks to the concept, young elementary school kids through sixth grade have been able to hold the instruments and make noises on them, gaining enrichment and a tangible introduction to the magical world of music. The zoo also enlists the aid of high school students, who run the exhibit and engage youngsters. This month WAI will be launching its second "March Madness Practice Challenge." In the inaugural year, nine regional schools participated. This year, WAI is up to double digits. In what Mack describes as a "gamification of practice," students compete in a point system- listening to a song earns you one point, and practicing your band music gets you five, and so on. There are prizes, but more importantly, the challenge gets results. "Last year we generated 200,000 minutes of practice time," Mack said, adding that cameo appearances from celebrities throughout the month motivate students. Hearing their towns being verbally acknowledged by well-known public figures results in kids feeling very seen, while adding an element of surprise and anticipation. "We have some really fun cameos lined up for this year," Mack previewed. WAI also has a virtual lesson program with 36 students currently taking advantage of that opportunity, all at no cost to the student, or school district. When Mack and Iturrino first toured WAI's new space, the potential within was immediately obvious. The area even came with a laminate brick wall, which with a stool, a guitar, and a microphone in front of it transforms immediately to a warm, coffeehouse-style vibe. And as luck would have it, WAI has been putting on student coffee houses for the past few years, showcasing student talent and awakening their inner performers in the spotlight. According to Mack, WAI has received a New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) grant for operation, and also a targeted opportunity. That grant will go towards expanding the coffee houses, and partnering with more schools for joint shows. A favorite local band, the Romanos, will also be deployed to work with kids. The grant will also aid in bringing famous Modern Blues guitarist and songwriter Davide Ponnozzo to the North Country this fall during the Summit for a residency. "We will have coffee house -style work at our Summit," Mack explained. "Davide will engage with four different school areas, and the residency will culminate with a public concert by him, as well as students serving as the opening acts and a grande finale with students performing on stage with Davide side by side." WAI's headquarters will also be a place for kids to unwind and commiserate after a group of Ticonderoga and Peru students travel to the capitol of Albany on Mar. 9 for New York State School Music Association's (NYSSMA) Joe Sugar Day. During the trip, kids will find their voices and let them be heard as they advocate to codify music education in the New York State constitution in front of state legislators. Bill A6490, which adds arts and music education as a common school branch that should be incorporated into the public school curriculum to provide a more well-rounded education for children, is thought to maybe get over the finish line this year. "It demonstrates the power of youth speaking out," Mack reflected. This April, Aubuchon's Hardware will be doing a change round-up match that will go towards the new space and the Harmony Restored workshops, as well as other WAI programming if needed. WAI's monthly "Sustain Squad" is also a way community members can provide steady support to assist the move-in to Montcalm Street and help grow programming and reach more students. Please visit www.weareinstrumentalny.org to sign up to be a Sustain Squad supporter. Keep an eye out on WAI's Facebook page for an official ribbon-cutting date at 94 Montcalm Street, and for the upcoming launch of WAI swag and apparel.

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We Are Instrumental moves in to new home

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