Supporting the Moral Imperative of Music Education
Established in 2013
The challenges and uncertainty that music programs are facing in today’s environment make it more important than ever for the Spirit of Harmony to fulfill its mission of helping music programs find the resources and support they need, and to mobilize our supporters to champion music programs in their own communities. The Foundation is always actively looking for ways to make a positive impact on music education advocacy. Please visit our Resources page for links and information on the many issues currently impacting Music Education.
Todd Rundgren’s Spirit of Harmony is a national organization that advocates for music education for children, particularly in public schools. Our mission is to work with individual music programs to assist them in building a sustainable network of local support, based on the measurable data that makes the case for the importance of music education in the neurological, social, academic, economic, and of course artistic, development of youth.
We forge meaningful partnerships among music programs, school districts, corporations, and other music education non-profits, engaging supporters and music fans to become involved in working with music education programs nationally and at a grassroots level in their communities.
We believe in providing opportunities for personal development and self-expression through music, regardless of socioeconomic status, geographic location, or ability.
Working in harmony with our partners and stake holders, our goal is to develop and nurture strategic relationships that remove obstacles and enhance the success of all.
“We’ve always thought that music programs are good because they teach socialization, and they sometimes give kids a reason to go to school. But that was speculative, feel-good stuff. Now we have actual hard data that music was changing kids’ brains in a way that benefited them. Cutting music programs out of a school may save money, but it is not doing the kids a service. The reason why you should have music in school is because it changes the way that kids process audio information, which affects the way that they learn in any situation, including school. So that became the moral imperative.”
— Spirit of Harmony Foundation Founder and President Todd Rundgren
The Spirit of Harmony Foundation advocates for the moral imperative of music education by:
- Providing children’s music programs with information, ideas, and resources to help them address their needs and be the best they can be.
- Providing music education advocates with referrals and connections within their own communities so they can support local music programs in meaningful and impactful ways.
- Taking every opportunity to network and interact with other organizations to speak about the importance of music education for children.
- Fostering collegiality and community to promote love of music and music education.
Based on the most compelling empirical research in the fields of neurobiology and youth development, we endorse the following Best Practices: instrument-based music education for children, beginning at as young an age as possible, ideally for a minimum four hours per week, for a minimum of two years. The benefits of music education are closely linked to these recognized Best Practices, but in practical terms we recognize that any music program is preferable to no music program. A fully funded and fully functioning music program is not always feasible at a school, therefore we encourage all music programs to aspire to these high standards to the extent possible and do the best they can to provide a quality music education for their students.
We encourage you to become involved in supporting Music Education in any way that feels right and true for YOU.
Please click here to download our Information Sheet.
Music Education Advocacy has a profound impact on grassroots supporters, music educators, and of course, children everywhere. Here is your Call To Action to be an advocate in your own way in your own community. Video created by Ed Vigdor.
Please click here for a summary of the Spirit of Harmony’s first ten years.
Awards and Recognition
Commendations become meaningful only with the knowledge that our Mission of advocating for music education drives absolutely everything we do, from helping put instruments into children’s hands, to supporting music programs all across the country, to mobilizing our supporters to rally around music programs in their own communities. We know that Music Education is a moral imperative, and we will continue to make sure that our voice is heard, loud and proud.
The Spirit of Harmony is proud to announce that we have been awarded a Top NonProfit Award for 2025 by Great Nonprofits, as we have received every year since 2019. The Top NonProfit Award is the one and only “people’s choice” award where volunteers, donors, and people served by nonprofits are asked to share stories of inspiration, express their appreciation, and potentially help nonprofits earn a spot on the prestigious GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Nonprofits List.
Also, SOHF has been awarded the 2025 GuideStar Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, which is their highest level of recognition. GuideStar by Candid is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. The Spirit of Harmony has been receiving Guidestar/Candid honors and recognition since 2018.
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