Across the United States, many community-based, music education programs serve youth who face significant barriers to a high-quality music education. A free music academy based in Rochester, New York, ROCmusic is similar to these programs in vision, but has an uncommon structure, which presents both benefits and drawbacks. Rather than functioning as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ROCmusic is governed by a partnership among the major cultural organizations, educational institutions, and governmental agencies in the city of Rochester, known as the ROCmusic Collaborative. This case study intends to explore the ways this alliance accomplishes its mission. One challenge that ROCmusic faces is the lack of a written document that specifies the expectations for each member organization. As this case explores the inner-workings of the ROCmusic Collaborative, the reader is tasked with imagining how a Memorandum of Understanding among the partners could be revised to deliver outcomes for students and the community.

Known for its use of gongs and a variety of custom tuned metal instruments, gamelan playing represents one of the world’s longest and most venerable musical traditions. Gamelan Dharma Swara is a New York-based gamelan ensemble following the Balinese tradition and one of the leading ensembles of its kind in the United States. This study highlights key moments in the group’s early history and focuses on serious internal questions about its effort to respect the Balinese tradition while exploring new horizons with gamelan music. Conversations about Dharma Swara’s identity, its level of professionalization, and its future cut across different aspects of the organization. The issue of attire serves as a proxy for larger questions at stake with the group.