Growing up in the Treme section of New Orleans, Derrick Tabb saw plenty of young men lost to a violent criminal culture. And he saw others, including himself, spared from trouble by music.

This month, Tabb, a father and drummer for the Rebirth Brass Band, is launching a free music education program named The Roots of Music.

The effort, involving his cousin, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, and other prominent Treme musicians and educators is geared toward 9- to 14-year olds.

It will draw students, mainly from five Recovery School District elementary schools that don't have marching band programs, and put them in summer music classes. During the coming school year, students will attend after-school classes for three hours.

Tabb has tapped an array of musicians to help him teach and secured donations from public and private sources.

Roots targets an age group especially vulnerable to violence in New Orleans. Eight of the year's first 60 murder victims were 18 or younger.

Tabb conducted a pilot Roots program in May, teaching 40 children the basics of reading sheet music and hitting notes. He was encouraged by the enthusiastic student response.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)