Providing Music and Mentorships for Incarcerated & At-Risk Individuals
Music on the Inside
Inspired by Louis Armtrong’s life-changing experience of music education and mentorship when he was incarcerated as a young man, Music on the Inside (MOTI) was founded in 2016 by Alina Bloomgarden, the originating producer of Jazz at Lincoln Center, MOTI) connects youth and adults impacted by incarceration with professional musicians as teachers and mentors to bring hope and healing through a shared love of music.
Through music, MOTI supports incarcerated individuals and returning citizens in building creativity, self-respect, focus, collaboration, parity with others and authentic community. We are proud to have a zero percent recidivism rate among MOTI protégés, demonstrating the impact of music education and community-building on successful rehabilitation.
To date, MOTI has delivered music education to 300+ incarcerated youth and adults in NYC jails and state prisons, reached 800+ incarcerated people with concerts in prison, facilitated more than 30 instrument-specific mentorships for returning citizens, and presented over 80 Musicians for Justice online and in person concerts. MOTI concerts feature performances by musicians in reentry and top professional musicians. Music legends Ron Carter, Wynton Marsalis, and Catherine Russell are among the over 500 other esteemed professionals who have performed with MOTI.
A WORD FROM OUR FOUNDER
My own experience of the humanizing effect of jazz music and Louis Armstrong's story of music education when he was incarcerated as a young man, made me ask what we were doing for incarcerated youth today? Believing that musicians would want to help this population, I launched Music on the Inside to give incarcerated youth and adults today what Armstrong had: music, mentorship and hope.
I wish everyone could see the instant connection and trust that music creates. When our teaching artists put a guitar in someone’s hands for the first time, without words, many essential life skills are transmitted. Our students, many of whom served years in prison, tell us they forget they’re in jail when they start to play and sing and write their own songs. We’re all transformed by the experience.
During reentry, our musically-engaged students continue their lessons with MOTI's dedicated teaching artists on Zoom. We believe music can give meaning, joy, courage and a sense of belonging while they face the challenges of finding jobs and housing with a record.
Accomplished musicians all over the country want to help this population. The vision is for the community of musicians to be a force for rehabilitation supporting music education that continues as individuals are released. If we are able to see these individuals through the lens of their potentials and benefit to society, rather than harm, we will all be the beneficiaries.