Music for Life

After-School Guitar Program - There are too few age appropriate after school programs for middle and high school age at-promise youth; the focus continues to be on early childhood education. While early childhood programs are essential, the lessons taught will not be retained if a comparable level of support is not provided through their difficult teen years. We provide free guitar lessons and mentoring to these youth in their neighborhoods and schools thus removing two of their greatest barriers; cost and transportation.

STEAM Guitar Program - Traditional STEM programs focus on college preparedness and are not technologically diverse; there is a need for diversity in what's offered and the addition of a vocational component. This program diversifies the academic offerings by teaching students the STEM principles behind the design and operation of a guitar and then adds a vocational component by having them build their own instrument. An electric guitar is used for high school students; cigar box guitar for middle school students. The program is offered as a Career & Technical Education (CTE) elective. At-promise students can participate for free; other students can participate for a fee. We provide the teacher training, unique tool set to assemble and test a guitar, course syllabus, and luthier support for the program.

Band & Orchestra Program - Fees and participation requirements are making school band and orchestra programs increasingly more expensive; students have to pay for instruments, uniforms, travel and competitions; schools recommend students take private lessons to become proficient on their instrument because they don't have adequate teaching resources to provide them adequate individual lessons. The result is that at-promise youth are being priced out of participation and/or unable to keep pace with those students whose families can afford private lessons. We bridge this gap by helping these students with fees they cannot afford as well as providing them free individual lessons.

Ukulele Program - This program originated as part of our After-School Guitar Program but has since grown to sufficient size to be a seperate program. Under this program we establish a ukulele program in Title I elementary schools and schools for youth with disabilities. We train the school's music teachers to run a ukulele program, provide them a curriculum and teaching materials, conduct a joint class at their school with them and our ukulele instructor, and donate a compliment of 30 ukuleles to the school. Follow-on teacher and instrument maintenance support is provided as needed.