Practicing Musician Foundation is launching hands-on music classes on Bainbridge Island for families and seniors, starting with a first goal of $30,000.

Here is the plan. Beginner group classes meet at newlife's Coppertop campus, with weekly sessions at island senior communities, schools, and other locations. The classes come from Practicing Musician, whose online music platform is used by music teachers in 90+ countries. The program is secular and open to everyone, regardless of faith, background, age, or ability. No experience needed.

WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT

Most people learn an instrument through private lessons: one teacher, one student, and months of practicing alone before they play with anyone. This program starts in a group. Beginners on different instruments play music together in their very first class. Between classes, students learn from Practicing Musician's courses in 16 instruments, soon 21, built from more than 3,800 video lessons recorded by professional musicians, including members of the Seattle Symphony and PNW Ballet Orchestra. Class time goes to playing together. Kids, parents, and grandparents can all join: students from pre-K through seniors already learn this way in other cities.

WHY WE BELIEVE IT WILL WORK

Bainbridge Island is home to 24,691 people, about 19,700 of them adults (U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 estimate). Nationally, 17% of adults have never played an instrument and wish they had (YouGov survey, 2022). At that rate, about 3,350 Bainbridge adults wish they had learned, before counting kids or former players who want to come back. This program is built for exactly those people: no experience needed, and playing together from the first class. We estimate that fewer than 70 paying students, plus contracted sessions at senior-living communities, will cover the program's full cost once donor support ends. That's about 2 in every 100 of the adults who wish they'd learned.

WHAT IT COSTS

A year of classes costs $1,188 per student, or $99 a month, and any family that needs a lower rate gets one, no questions asked. For comparison, El Sistema-style nonprofits spend about $2,400 per student a year, and for-profit studios like School of Rock take in more than $3,000.

WHAT YOUR GIFT DOES

Our first goal, $30,000, funds the program's first three months, including the pilot classes.

Beyond that first goal, we're raising support for the program's first three years. A new program has more costs than students at the start. Gifts cover that gap while enrollment grows, and tuition and contracted sessions are designed to carry the full cost from the fourth year on, with no donor money needed.

WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

Your gift goes to Practicing Musician Foundation (EIN 33-2024712), an Arizona nonprofit corporation based in Phoenix and formed in November 2024, and is set aside for the Bainbridge program. The Foundation uses it to purchase program services from Practicing Musician, a Washington social purpose corporation, either directly or through a grant to a local nonprofit partner. Tuition that families pay is credited against the program's price, so your gift covers only what tuition doesn't. Jake Douglass leads both organizations: he is founder of Practicing Musician and volunteers as President of the Foundation. newlife hosts the classes and receives no funds.

ABOUT TAXES

The Foundation is applying to the IRS for recognition as a 501(c)(3) public charity. If the IRS approves, gifts made now become tax-deductible back to the day you gave. The IRS has not decided yet, so deductibility is not guaranteed; please ask your tax advisor. The Foundation will email you a written acknowledgment of your gift, and we will write again when the IRS decides.

If the Bainbridge program cannot go forward, the Foundation will use your gift for its other music education programs.

Use the contact form to reach Jake Douglass. Jake has lived on Bainbridge Island since August 2024. He is President, Practicing Musician Foundation, and Founder and Executive Chairman, Practicing Musician.

Thank you for helping your neighbors make music.