School music programs are dying, according to guitar teacher Monty Schmidt. There are rare programs that have lasted for decades thanks to parental support, but in neighborhoods where families struggle financially, you don't see them, he said.

So how does a student who can't afford private lessons learn to play an instrument?

Scholarships. That's what Schmidt's Music Never Stops Foundation aims to give, though not a single student has applied so far.

This Thursday, the group will kick off their publicity and fundraising efforts with a Winter Jazz Concert Series at Beatnik Studios. The Rio Americano High School Jazz Combo will open for Capital Jazz Project and the concert will end with an open jazz jam session.

"I taught briefly as a public music teacher and the resources were very slim," Schmidt said. "The administrators that were trying to deal with holding their programs together didn't have much attention, help or resources."

After years of teaching private lessons in local music stores, he decided to teach music in his own home before opening the Earthtone School of Music in 2006. The school aims to create a studio-like environment where teachers can communicate with other teachers and students can speak to other students.

A group of business owners and some parents and students in the studio, realized there was a greater need, Schmidt said. The group wanted to bring awareness to the community about the lack of resources for music education.

They pooled resources and set out to develop an outreach program to cultivate an understanding that there was a need. In September, the group was recognized as an official nonprofit, with the mission to fund private music lessons using festivals and concerts to generate funds.

The nonprofit will give scholarships to under-18 students  who need financial help. Each scholarship will be awarded on a case-by-case basis, with the awards including everything from an experience in a summer jazz camp to a year of private instruction.

The foundation is made up of a board of directors which includes business owners, parents of music students and Schmidt as president. There is also a small event committee to assist in scheduling concerts.

Since not a single applicant has reached the foundation so far, Schmidt hopes the Winter Jazz Concert Series will raise awareness of the organization. The Winter Jazz Concert Series will be followed by the to-be-scheduled Music Never Stops Foundation Festival.

At the festival, a group of musicians will attempt to play the world record-breaking longest jazz song, to prove that "music never stops."

"We will be running the same tune in shifts of musicians," Schmidt said. "The song will start by a particular group of players and, as their shift winds down, the next group will be ready to be passed the torch. It will be 45-minute shifts for 24 hours."

The tentative schedule for the Winter Jazz Concert Series is as follows:

Jan. 14: Winter Jazz Concert Series Kickoff featuring Capital Jazz Project and the Rio Americano High school Jazz Combo. Ends with an open jazz jam.

Jan. 28: Earthtone School of Music Faculty Jazz Ensemble, open jazz jam

Feb. 11: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey

Feb. 25: Swing Dance Ball with Atomic Jump Revival, dance lessons at 8 p.m., band begins at 9 p.m.

March 11: Folsom High School Jazz Ensemble, open jazz jam

March 25: CSUS Jazz Ensemble, open jazz jam

April 8: Swing Dance Ball with Atomic Jump Revival, dance lessons at 8 p.m., band begins at 9 p.m.

April 22: Adam Jenkins Trio, open jazz jam

All events begin at 8 and end at 11 p.m. at Beatnik Studios, 2421 17th St. Concerts cost $10, $7 for students. $50 pre-sale tickets for the entire series are available at Beatnik Studios and musicneverstops.org. Musicians who show up at the door for the jam sessions with the ability to play at least two recognizable jazz or bebop standards are admitted with a sliding scale donation.

Photograph depicting music students courtesy Earthtone School of Music.