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Event Details

Community Engage Evenings

Overview

  • At the beginning of each Band Class Session, we hold a Community Engage Evening at which students present to each other charities and causes that are important to them.

  • Students explain how they learned about the charities, what needs are met by the organizations and why they feel it is important to support the organizations.

  • Also during the evening, an adult whose work involves using the arts to effect social change speaks with the students.

  • At the end of the evening, students vote to determine the recipient charitable organization for the concert.

Social Consciousness

  • One of the most important aspects of Plugged In is the emphasis placed on showing students how they can use music to better the world.

  • The concerts at the end of each session raise money for charitable organizations chosen by the students.

  • Our goal is to provide role models for the students of ways to include philanthropy in their lives and careers.

Community Performances

  • Plugged In students are invited to perform at many community and non-profit organization events, such as:

    • 4th of July Parade

    • Needham Street Fairs

    • New Years Needham Celebration

    • Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

    • Walker School

  • These performances are optional and voluntary.

  • Students can perform with their bands, by themselves and/or with students from other bands.

Benefit Concert Series

  • At the end of each session, students participate in three evenings of performances.  

  • Regardless of whether a student is on stage or in the audience during a performance, electricity and excitement is felt in the air.  

  • Students performing feel like professional musicians and the students in the audience cheer them on and support the performers.  

  • Tickets and swag are sold during the evening and the profit is donated to the charity chosen during the Community Engage Evening.

Summer Camp Performances

Community Engage

  • One of the most important aspects of Plugged In is the emphasis placed on using music to better the world.

  • Plugged In models this concept by turning the “recital” at the end of each session into a benefit concert for a charity chosen by the students.

  • Our students choose that charity at Community Engage.

Harvard Square Busking

  • Students bring their music straight to the public during this offsite performance. 

  • Busking gives our students a unique and fun performance experience.

Summer Benefit Concert

  • This is the performance we work so hard for each session.

  • Students perform with their bands for friends and family while raising awareness and funds for the charity of their choice.

Annual Benefit Concerts

  • Each year we hold two fundraisers to help support Plugged In.  

  • Sometimes we have corporate sponsored events played in an exciting public performance space.

  • Sometimes we host professional bands and host an event.

Capital Campaign

  • Beginning in the fall of 2013 we launched phase 1 of our Capital Campaign to raise funds to buy a permanent home for Plugged In.  

  • During our first, silent phase, we raised over $100,000 to make the purchase.  

  • Now, having moved in and running classes, phase 2, our public phase, will begin.  

  • Our goal is to raise another $300,000 over the next two years through private donations and other means.  

To receive information on our campaign please reach out to sandra@pluggedinband.org.

Upcoming Events

  • Needham Blue Tree Lighting Performance
    Needham Blue Tree Lighting Performance
    Sat, Dec 02
    Needham Town Hall
    Dec 02, 5:00 PM – Dec 03, 6:00 PM
    Needham Town Hall, 1471 Highland Ave, Needham, MA 02492, USA
    Dec 02, 5:00 PM – Dec 03, 6:00 PM
    Needham Town Hall, 1471 Highland Ave, Needham, MA 02492, USA
    Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of a very special Needham tradition that's been taking place since 1954 - the lighting of the Blue Tree!
  • Community Engage - Nominations and Voting
    Community Engage - Nominations and Voting
    Multiple Dates
    Mon, Dec 04
    Plugged In's Instagram - @pluggedinband
    Dec 04, 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM
    Plugged In's Instagram - @pluggedinband
    Dec 04, 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM
    Plugged In's Instagram - @pluggedinband
    One of the ways Plugged In empowers our students to give back is by turning the "recital" at the end of each band class session into a benefit concert that supports a charity chosen by the students. Our students come together to choose that charity through our Community Engage online event!
  • Youth Board Meeting
    Youth Board Meeting
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, Dec 06
    Needham
    Dec 06, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM EST
    Needham, 40 Freeman Pl. Needham, MA 02492
    Dec 06, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM EST
    Needham, 40 Freeman Pl. Needham, MA 02492
    Join your Plugged In friends and bandmates for our Youth Board meeting where we'll work together to make our communities and our program an even better place!
  • Winter Break - No Band or Music Tech Classes
    Winter Break - No Band or Music Tech Classes
    Multiple Dates
    Tue, Dec 19
    Plugged In Band Program
    Dec 19, 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM
    Plugged In Band Program, 40 Freeman Pl, Needham, MA 02492, USA
    Dec 19, 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM
    Plugged In Band Program, 40 Freeman Pl, Needham, MA 02492, USA
    Enjoy your winter break! There are no band or music technology classes during break times. Private lessons can still take place depending on student and teacher availability. Please contact your instructor directly to confirm lessons during break times.
  • Day 1 - Plugged In Fall Session Benefit Concert and Showcase
    Day 1 - Plugged In Fall Session Benefit Concert and Showcase
    Fri, Jan 12
    Needham VFW
    Jan 12, 2024, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
    Needham VFW, 20 Junction St, Needham, MA 02492, USA
    Jan 12, 2024, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
    Needham VFW, 20 Junction St, Needham, MA 02492, USA
    Join us for a two day music extravaganza where 30+ Plugged In bands will be performing to raise awareness and funds for a charity chosen by our fall session students!
  • Day 2 - Plugged In Fall Session Benefit Concert and Showcase
    Day 2 - Plugged In Fall Session Benefit Concert and Showcase
    Sat, Jan 13
    Needham VFW
    Jan 13, 2024, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
    Needham VFW, 20 Junction St, Needham, MA 02492, USA
    Jan 13, 2024, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
    Needham VFW, 20 Junction St, Needham, MA 02492, USA
    Join us for a two day music extravaganza where 30+ Plugged In bands will be performing to raise awareness and funds for a charity chosen by our fall session students!
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