What We Do   
|
Music Buddies Mentorship Program The Music Buddies Mentorship Program is a peer-to-peer musical training opportunity for youth in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The program provides eight months of free, weekly, private music instruction to disadvantaged middle school and elementary school students given by trained AYPO musicians who are intereste Elementary and middle school music teachers identify mentees to receive instruction based on financial, social, and other special needs. The AYPO musicians meet weekly with their mentees for half an hour to provide free lessons covering basic music skills, exercises, and the mentees’ school orchestra or band music. The mentors receive training from a professional music educator every one to two months on how to teach younger musicians. During the 2007-2008 season, mentors volunteer their time in 18 schools throughout the Washington region. At the end of each year, mentees, their One goal for the program is to elevate the interest level and retention of young musicians in their school music program. Farina, a violin mentee from Luther Jackson Middle School, says that “the best part about my music lessons is that I could learn music to play on my instrument and at the same time I was able to share with my mentor”. Another goal of the program is to instill a sense of community responsibility in AYPO musicians. Sarah Toy, a violist from the American Youth Concert Orchestra, says that “Music Buddies is a wonderful program that provides young people with an interest in classical music a unique opportunity to teach, that would be otherwise unavailable, while providing private lessons for underprivileged youth in the community”.
Monday, October 1, 2007 Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007 Monday, February 11, 2008 Monday, April 21, 2008 Monday, May 19, 2008 Music Buddies Showcase Recital General Handouts:
Online submission:
For questions, please email Michelle Wallace, Coordinator of Education and Outreach or email Kerri Shelfo, Music Buddies mentor trainer.
|
d in coaching other students on their instruments. This program is available to middle and high school members of the American Youth Concert Orchestra, the American Youth Symphonic Orchestra, and the American Youth Philharmonic® as a way to gain valuable hands-on teaching experience as mentors. Each AYPO mentor receives community service hours for participating in this program.
families, and mentors are encouraged to participate in the Music Buddies Showcase Recital. This recital is an opportunity for Music Buddies participants to share their musical accomplishments with an audience.
