Virtual Music Lessons

Engaging kids during COVID-19 has been a challenge, but we continue to find creative ways to support our youth, no matter what. This summer, Friends of the Children–Portland and Friends of the Children–SW Washington, together with the Youth Music Project, are exploring our youths’ musical Spark by providing them an opportunity to take virtual music lessons.

Interested youth, sign up for a lesson time, choose an instructor and an instrument: ukulele, piano, violin, guitar, bass, drums, voice or mixing/beats. Youth Music Project sets up the nine-week lesson via Google Meets video classrooms and generously provides Friends of the Children–Portland and Friends of the Children–SW Washington with instruments that we deliver to our youth.

This opportunity has brought a huge amount of excitement and smiles to our youth. Online instruction during the latter part of the school year did not provide enough one-on-one human connection for many of our youth. These lessons with Youth Music Project allow our youth to receive individual attention and support from an adult while learning a new and fun skill.

This has been a great activity to keep engaging our youth, especially those who are elementary-aged; they are still eager and curious to learn new things but have not had many opportunities during this pandemic. Over the summer, they have also been bored at home, and most have not had regular schedules to follow, as activities like in-person summer camps have been canceled. This music lesson provides some structure and has given them something tangible to look forward to each week. Learning an instrument and playing music provides our youth space and time to focus on themselves and eases the stress they may be experiencing during COVID-19.

We are so happy to see our youth exploring their Spark and discovering new talents! Thanks to your support, we can provide experiences like virtual music lessons.

*** the video below was kindly edited by our volunteer Aline Vieitez.