This first part seems off topic; please read through it …

The 2007 movie August Rush tells the story of 11 year old Evan who escaped from an orphanage in search of his birth parents. A street musician takes him in and hears him improvising on the guitar, which he had never touched before. His musical genius is discovered, he lands a spot at Julliard, and happily ever after.

Evan may never have had the chance to discover his talent if he hadn’t had the opportunity to touch the guitar or play the pipe organ. Of course, August Rush is only a fictional movie, but we can see that the same concept applies in real life.

Nowadays, a cheap beginner violin costs hundreds of dollars, a cello even more, and a piano thousands (anything less than that can be considered unplayable). Music lessons cost even more. For one 50 dollar hour long class a week, a typical cost, that’s $2600 per year and tens of thousands for a couple years.

My project will provide free resources including instruments, sheet music, and lessons, to local youth in Ann Arbor Michigan who are interested in music but can’t afford it. I hope to create a cohort of at least ten students from 4th to 8th grade who will be lent a free instrument and free sheet music for a year. They will then be able to participate in virtual or in person lessons provided by top high school orchestra/band students who are members of Ann Arbor Youth Community Musicians (a volunteer group I previously established that holds performances at senior homes and health care facilities). The lessons will be available to anyone who applies, even if they didn't apply for an instrument, given we have enough tutors.

We aim to introduce youth to the world of music, expand their opportunities and experiences, and connect every corner of our community.