The 2025 March Madness Practice Challenge

9 Schools. 200,000+ Minutes. One Unforgettable Month of Music.

This year, We Are Instrumental launched the first-ever March Madness Practice Challenge—and the results blew us away.

Inspired by the spirit of teamwork and friendly competition, this month-long challenge brought together over 200 music students from 9 schools across the region. The goal? Simple: track and celebrate consistent practice, school pride, and musical growth. Each week in March, students logged their practice minutes, which were tallied on a shared leaderboard that sparked excitement, accountability, and a whole lot of cheering from peers, teachers, and families. Whether practicing scales or polishing solos, students pushed themselves and each other to new heights.

🥇 1st Place Brushton Moira

🥈 2nd Place Peru

🥉 3rd Place Tupper Lake

And yes—there were prizes. Really good ones.

  • 🥇 1st Place: A custom school plaque, ice cream and pizza party, and tickets to a show at Proctors

  • 🥈 2nd Place: Ice cream and pizza party

  • 🥉 3rd Place: Ice cream party

By the end of the challenge, they had collectively practiced more than 200,000 minutes of music—the equivalent of nearly 140 days of non-stop playing!

More than just a number, this challenge built momentum, boosted confidence, and re-centered the joy of consistent practice at the heart of our programs.

What started as a fun experiment has quickly become a cornerstone of our community engagement, and we can’t wait to bring it back—bigger and better—in 2026.

Celebrity Cameos That Brought the Magic

One of the most exciting—and unexpected—parts of the 2025 March Madness Practice Challenge? The incredible celebrity cameos that surprised and motivated our students along the way!

We were thrilled to partner with a lineup of musical and theatrical stars who took the time to send personalized video messages cheering on our young musicians and encouraging them to keep practicing. These messages sparked excitement, boosted morale, and reminded students that the world is watching—and rooting for them.

Our amazing lineup of celebrity guests included:

🎬 Abby Lee Miller – Beloved (and bold!) dance coach and reality TV icon from Dance Moms
🎭 Eryn LeCroy – Talented soprano and Broadway star, known for her role as Christine Daaé in Phantom of the Opera
🏈 Isaiah Rodgers – NFL Super Bowl star and Eagles cornerback, known for his speed, strength, and inspiring student shoutouts
🏛️ Assemblyman Matt Simpson – Local leader and proud supporter of youth arts
🏛️ Senator Dan Stec – Champion for education and regional music programs
🎤 Jodie Langel – Broadway actress, internet personality, and motivational voice in the performing arts

We’d like to extend a huge congratulations…

to our winning schools—and to every student who participated in the 2025 March Madness Practice Challenge! Your dedication, effort, and enthusiasm made this event truly unforgettable.

We also want to share a heartfelt thank you to the incredible educators, families, and supporters who helped make this challenge possible. Whether you were cheering from the sidelines, helping track practice minutes, or surprising students with encouragement—you were a vital part of this success.