Free Music Lessons for Silicon Valley's Youth

Welcome! We’re Matthew, Maria, and Lorenna, and we are the founders of the Free Music Academy of Silicon Valley. Our new nonprofit is dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusivity, and cultural enrichment by providing free music lessons to under-resourced youth throughout the Silicon Valley region of California. We started this initiative to address the socioeconomic and racial disparities in the world of classical music, where opportunities have historically been limited for those from underprivileged backgrounds.

Classical music education is expensive. Did you know that a typical music lesson in Silicon Valley costs around $100 per hour? This high cost not only creates a significant barrier for many students, but also reinforces existing disparities in the classical music world, where black and brown people of color are drastically underrepresented. Matthew, our president, experienced this disparity first hand. He was one of the only students of Latin descent in every musical group he played in while growing up in Silicon Valley, an area about 20% Hispanic/Latin. Moreover, this disparity can be seen on a much larger scale as well. In the major United States orchestras, Black and Hispanic/Latine musicians make up only about 2-6.8% of players collectively, despite these communities making up a significant portion of the national population (The Sphinx Organization, 2020; League of American Orchestras, 2023).

This is where the Free Music Academy of Silicon Valley comes in. We hope to follow existing models such as El Sistema, YOLA, and Sphinx, and provide under-resourced youth with opportunities in music they otherwise would not have. Each student in our program will receive weekly online lessons with a world-class trained instructor, instruments provided to them as needed, and the opportunity to perform at our biannual recitals.

With your help, we can change the lives of the future generation. Not only is classical music just a timeless art that stimulates multiple areas of the brain—it provides students with a sense of community, structure, passion, and purpose. Classical music enhances cognitive function, emotional expression, and cultural awareness, while teaching discipline, responsibility, and perseverance—skills necessary for everyday life. Performing also allows musicians to build confidence and self-esteem, providing them with a voice to express themselves and connect with their audience in a way words cannot. Your support will help us create a future where young people from all backgrounds can reap the benefits and joy this beautiful art form has to offer.

Learn more about our nonprofit at our website.