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 interested 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.

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 2008-2009 season, mentors volunteered their time in 12 schools throughout the Washington region. At the end of each year, mentees, their 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.

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”.

For questions about the Music Buddies Program or to order supplies for mentees e-mail Ms. Wallace, AYPO Coordinator of Education & Outreach

For questions about teaching techniques e-mail Mrs. Shelfo, Music Buddies mentor trainer or e-mail Ms. Odmark, Woodwind/Brass mentor trainer