As you can imagine, it takes money to run a project such as the Orquestra Sopros de Pindoretama. Arley has to submit a proposal each year to the Brazilian Government to ask for funding for his project. The first year, eleven years ago, there were 5000 cultural project proposals submitted and Arley's was the number one proposal funded. He received 27,000 real the first year. Each year when he submits his proposal, he asks for a little more money, and he gets an increase every year.
However, the program is now growing faster than his budget increases. He now approaches local businesses in the community of Pindoretama to be sponsors. There is a stage sponsor, an electricity sponsor, and copy machine sponsor, etc. The town really rallies around Arley and the project as they can see what a difference it makes in the lives of these children, and in the cultural setting of their community.
This year, Arley's proposal is due in December, and he is going to ask for 17,000 real (about 13,000 US) for me to bring 9 staff members with me in June for a week to teach private lessons, run masterclasses, give a recital, play in the band with the students, and give a finale concert at the end of the week.
While this is going on, I would be running classes for the conductors in northeast Brazil on rehearsal techniques, conducting, score study, etc.
The money will pay for our airfare and hotel for the week. I am going to build a staff of former students who are teachers, and upperclassman music majors with teaching experience to bring with me for this project.
Arley and I are very excited about this. I think my students will learn so much from the experience and I know the students from the wind orchestra will love having american teachers here to work with them.
It is always fun to dream and think outside the box.
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