Dustin Gray works to kick obstacles out of the way of aspiring musicians.
The new Oberlin-based nonprofit Next Gen Music Outreach works to put instruments in the hands of students who cannot afford to rent or purchase them but want to learn.
“I would hate for the world to miss out on the next Jimi Hendrix or the next Vivaldi because that student didn’t have access to an instrument at the right time,” Gray said.
While band and orchestra are offered to all students in a district, usually beginning around fourth-grade, not all students can afford the associated fees.
Gray noticed this several years ago at a marching band competition where most bands included very few students of color.
“I realized it was because families didn’t have access to instruments in the younger grades,” he said.
Gray said Next Gen still is in its infancy, but it already has placed several instruments through organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters.
They talk about students but would gladly help anyone of any age who wanted to learn an instrument or who needed help with instrument-related expenses.
He’s hopeful for the long-term success of the organization and has a vision for a large impact.
“Ideally, we’d love to build a relationship with our students,” Gray said. “We want to be a point of support for them.
“I would love to get to a point where we can pay for a student’s lessons as well, and I’d be tickled pink to eventually have the Next Gen band. We’re also interested in music therapy for veterans.”
Gray and his Managing Director David Miller both play guitar and also tinker with them and create unique instruments.
Gray’s daughter Covie Gray, who just graduated in music education from Capital University, also is involved.
Musicians are very supportive of other musicians, Gray noted, and now that live music venues and festivals have rebounded from the coronavirus pandemic, opportunities to partner are abundant.
“Most musicians are really enthusiastic about the next generation,” he said. “They understand the wonderful power of music and they want to perpetuate it.”
Next Gen accepts donations of instruments and actively is looking for support.
