What happens when young people participate in collaborative music-making?

This question is one that Yakima Music en Acción (colloquially called “YAMA”) aims to answer, every day when we’re in session. At YAMA, we use string music education as a vehicle for our mission. 

In our business, we’re big fans of words.

But most writers — if they’re being honest — would probably trade the ability to type words on a computer keyboard for the talent to play notes on a piano keyboard in a heartbeat.

Because music touches people in ways that words can’t. It expresses the pitch and rhythm of our very souls and conveys feelings for which there are no words.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic has awarded youth orchestra Yakima Music en Acción a $15,000 grant through its Partners in Learning initiative.

The process of becoming a whole musician is a constant exploration of one’s mental agility, physical dexterity and — something much less often discussed — social emotional intelligence. The process of becoming a marketable musician is not a task performed in isolation.

A Seattle-based nonprofit has awarded a $100,000 grant to Yakima Music en Acción, the after-school orchestra program that provides youths access to classical music training and leadership development.

A Seattle-based nonprofit has awarded a $100,000 grant to Yakima Music en Acción, the after-school orchestra program that provides youths access to classical music training and leadership development.

I’ve been thinking lately about what my responsibility is around teaching.

The day we came back from spring break, I asked the YAMA Philharmonia Orchestra students what goals they have for themselves as musicians as we finish out the year. Nearly half of them said they want to be more confident. Wow, I thought, how on earth do I support them in this goal?