As a young musician, I feel that youth music is a cause very much worth supporting. This past weekend I attended Temple Music Prep’s youth orchestra concert. This concert consisted of three orchestras as well as several small ensembles, and it served as a reminder of just how important music can be to young people. Programs such as these allow for kids to discover and cultivate talents while also working with professionals who they would not engage with otherwise. However, music itself serves as a great way to develop life skills, similar to the role of sports. Kids can learn discipline, hard work, and how to cultivate a passion. Personally, music has played an important role in my life because it has brought me closer to many people in my community and has taught me how to work towards goals and deadlines. Additionally, music is clinically proven to help with brain development and to be an enriching force in a child’s education. The values of music at a young age are numerous, and music is a passion that I am very lucky to have and be able to foster in others. 

Some organizations that I would like to promote and suggest for any people who are interested in music for their children or themselves as a young person are Project 440, Temple’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians, Symphony in C, and my own organization Transforming Youth Music Education (TYME). Project 440 is an organization run out of Philadelphia by the Philadelphia orchestra bassist Joseph Conyers. I was lucky to be able to meet him and learn more about his organization and I would highly recommend this organization to anyone civically minded who seeks to engage with the community through music. Project 440 also has several after-school programs that teach youth how to lead, speak publicly, and apply the arts to helping the community. Temple’s programs for young musicians are ideal for those who already play an instrument and would like to refine their skills. This program offers opportunities for all instruments and students work with professionals from the Philadelphia area through private coaching within ensembles and weekly masterclasses. 

Symphony in C and TYME are both organizations that support youth. However, they are best engaged in a group setting. Symphony in C is a group in the Camden area that features a symphony full of semi-professional musicians. Most of these musicians are students who attend conservatory for their instruments, and their concerts are on the level of some professional orchestras. Symphony in C also has numerous summer programs for kids who are seeking to learn an instrument and those who want to advance their craft. Additionally, they have a program called classroom symphony, where musicians introduce the different instruments through song and narration to another group. TYME is an organization that works with the historical and educational aspect of music. They focus less on the teaching of instruments and more on the historical background and impact of music in the modern day. They work with organizations to bring them to concerts and provide information on the music being played and its importance. Each of these organizations supports what I think is one of most worthy and important causes for children and can provide great opportunities for kids across the Philadelphia and New Jersey area.