CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE MUSIC PLAYROOM & The Music Instrument Petting Zoo ONLINE:

Help bring diversity, equity, inclusion, and high quality music education experiences directly to public school students in underserved communities! The brand new Houston-based organization "The Music Playroom" (directed by Teresa Newman of Newman Music Academy) is looking to raise an initial $10,000 community investment to build the music instrument inventory for THE MUSIC INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO, a music education outreach program that will bring a wide variety of folk music instruments from around the world directly to children in their schools to touch, feel, hear, and play these musical instruments themselves, and experience musical traditions from other countries they may have never been able to experience otherwise. The goal is to start scheduling school visits in the Houston area by Fall 2026.

The Music Instrument Petting Zoo will be managed by The Music Playroom. The Music Playroom is an innovative music education outreach program designed to provide students from Title I schools and underserved communities with unique and culturally diverse musical experiences. With the help of community leaders and generous contributing partners like you, we hope to one day open a physical location that will serve as a music education-themed play place, interactive children’s museum, performance and rehearsal space, music education resource hub, and community center for children’s music and arts.

In conjunction with these services, The Music Playroom is dedicated to providing scholarship opportunities, music instrument/equipment grants, and music lessons to children from low-income families. We also want to provide inclusive and exciting performance opportunities such as community bands, ensembles, rock bands, and solo recitals for all kid musicians, but particularly those who can not otherwise participate in a school music ensemble because of income, lack of school funding, or being in an alternative education setting like homeschooling. This is all in an effort to give all children access to a well-rounded, culturally diverse music education regardless of their life circumstances.

Our “Music Instrument Petting Zoo” Soundboard included on this website (although currently under construction) serves as a “digital preview” for the musical experiences The Music Playroom hopes to soon offer the children of Houston, Texas. With the help of patrons like you, we can make it this dream a reality. Your contributions help greatly in not only getting the digital soundboard launched and fully operational, but also in getting the petting zoo and playroom off the ground. Please use the soundboard as a fun online learning resource for your own child AND YOU! Please check back in soon for updates to the soundboard and playability upon completion (estimated completion January/February 2026).

You contributions here will go DIRECTLY towards purchasing instruments for the MUSIC INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO. After the initial goal of $10,000 has been met, we will focus any donations to the first inaugural 10 music instrument scholarship grants for Houston area children in need. Thank you for being a shining light and supporting partner in helping children find joy and belonging through music and arts during such a trying and politically divisive time.