On Tuesday, March 12th, Newport Festivals Foundation announced their 100th student had registered for their Free Music Lessons program. The program provides free private music lessons and a free instrument rental for any student ages 9-18 on Aquidneck Island. This milestone moment came just nine months after the program launched in June of 2023. 

“Our goal was to register 60 students in a year,” said Dan Swain, Director of Development and Programs. “Thanks to the numerous donations we received from the NFF community to support this initiative, we were able to register 100 in just nine months. I think that really shows how much people value music education on Aquidneck Island. Parents recognize that lessons have the ability to really improve their child’s life.”

The Free Music Lessons program is a partnership between Newport Festivals Foundation and Newport Music, a local instrument repair and lessons shop on Bellevue Ave.  

The program is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Gruben Charitable Foundation. 

Lessons can be taken at the Newport Music shop or at the Florence Gray Center. To register, click here.