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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”.

Mentor Training Sessions for the 2009-2010 Season
5:00pm, Kilmer Middle School, orchestra room, with Mrs. Shelfo

Monday, October 13, 2009
"Orientation and Introduction to the Program"
Download: Orientation Notes

Monday, November 9, 2009
Download: Teaching the First Lesson
Download: Lesson Plan
Download: Pyramid of Rhythm

Monday, December 14, 2009
Download: Time Management
Download: Art of Communication
Lessons do not take place over winter break (Dec. 24 - Jan. 1) and should resume the first week in January 2010.

Monday, January 11, 2010
"Check in with mentors"
Download: Challenges
Download: Mentoring Middle School Musician

Monday, March 1, 2010
Strings Session with Mrs. Shelfo
Woodwinds/Brass Session with Ms. Odmark
Download: Strings Techniques
Download: Woodwind/Brass Techniques
Download: Mentor mid-year evaluation form
Download: Mentee mid-year evaluation form
BOTH FORMS DUE: Monday, March 22

Monday, April 12, 2010
Checking-in with Mentors
Teaching Music to Students with Special Needs

Monday, May 10, 2010
“Concert Performance and Stage Etiquette”
Download: Mentee final evaluation form
Download: Mentor final evaluation form
BOTH FORMS DUE: Monday, June 7


Music Buddies Showcase Recital
Monday, June 7, 2010: 7:30pm

*Performers must arrive by 6:45pm to warm-up*
Kilmer Middle School, Vienna, Virginia
Showcase Recital information for mentees (available in May 2010)
Showcase Recital information for mentors (available in May 2010)

For Mentors:
Online lesson record form
Printable lesson record form
Supplies request form
Mentee practice worksheet
Music staff sheet
Mentor carpool roster

For Music Buddies Schools:
Flier for students
Parent permission form
Teacher brochure

Useful Websites:
Metronome Online
MusicTheory.net
Music Racer (educational game for mentees)

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