Milt Allen’s “Biking for Band” is a solo, self-contained bicycle ride across the USA designed to raise awareness of the number of instrumental programs being cut in the United States in addition to the mass teacher exodus. During the 3K+ mile route that begins at the Santa Monica Pier in California and ends in Washington, D.C., Milt plans to connect with news outlets, students, and teachers in addition to working with educators on prioritizing self-care so they are at their best for themselves and their students.

“You see, at the end of the day, it’s not simply about music – what I believe to be the most crucial and irreplaceable subject in school – it’s about the all students, their future, and what their educational opportunities can provide. It’s about supporting all teachers in all subjects, who help students craft themselves and discover what they can accomplish by doing so.”

Listen to his interview with Music Ed Insights on musicedinstights.com, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Dr. Milt Allen has worked with hundreds of schools, community groups and organizations, reaching thousands of students, directors and community members during his career. He is often described as being one of the most creative, innovative, inspiring and non-traditional music educators today. Conductor, clinician, speaker, author and tireless advocate on behalf of music education, his passion for reaching more musicians at a grass-roots level includes extensive experiences in both public schools and universities in addition to founding a non-profit: The Music Guerrilla, which works with underfunded/under-serviced programs in Rwanda, Zambia, Haiti and Compton, CA as well as other schools across the United States. Milt brings a rare perspective to his role. His cross-genre music interests effectively combine with previous teaching positions in rural/suburban, large/small and public/parochial environments to create a truly unique ability to connect to those he serves. His experiences range from teaching beginning instrumentalists in a boiler room to premiering new works at the university level, to working with young African musicians learning to play an instrument. Yet always, from Glasgow, Scotland, to Zambia, Africa, and at regional, state, national, and international conferences, Milt’s humor, passion, and experience combine to illuminate the possibilities of both music and the live art of performance. Dr. Allen is sponsored by Meredith Music, a division of GIA and Jupiter Music.