Organization Name: SOUNDS Academy

SOUNDS Academy believes that the zip code of a child should not dictate their access to quality music education.  But sadly, it is not the belief and practice in many parts of our country and state. Since its founding in 2014, SOUNDS Academy has been laser-focused on removing the barriers that talented underprivileged youth face to accessing the dynamic opportunities music education provides. SOUNDS Academy is a nonprofit music education organization that teaches, mentors and provides unique musical experiences and opportunities for diverse K-12 youth of Metro Phoenix. Students receive individual lessons and group classes, and perfect their performance on the violin, viola, cello, guitar, piano, woodwind instruments or drums. Just recently, a SOUNDS Academy student was invited to perform before the acclaimed Phoenix Symphony!

SOUNDS Academy teaches more than music. It is a support system for students and their families and a space for students to live and learn the values of creativity, leadership, perseverance, resilience and teamwork.  This success is made possible by the dedicated community of givers.  AZ Gives Day provides SOUNDS Academy the opportunity to connect new givers who share a love of youth empowerment, the arts, social justice or simply music to this worthy mission.  Gifts given to SOUNDS Academy during AZ Gives Day is used to support music education for students in several ways, including putting instruments in students’ hands, providing tuition for instruction and coaching to audition for pre-eminent music opportunities that can open doors to a career in music. It also provides scholarships for college.   Notably, 100% of the students who graduate from SOUNDS Academy SOLO Program now attend a college or university to pursue various degrees such as biology, business and music education! While the entire arts and education system cannot be reconstructed in one day, as a community, givers to SOUNDS Academy confront the lack of access Arizona youth have to quality and rigorous music education. They make a difference!

SOUNDS Academy is a nonprofit music education organization that teaches, mentors and provides musical experiences and opportunities for underserved youth. Students receive individual lessons and group classes, and perform on the violin, viola, cello, guitar and piano. Instruments are provided to those who cannot afford one. In SOUNDS Academy, students learn the character values of creativity, leadership, perseverance, resilience and teamwork through music education. We teach these values in our Musical Access Program, which connects students to live music and instruments through our Instrument Petting Zoos; our School Programs for lower income schools and community centers; and our SOLO Program, which provides one-on-one instruction. To donate or learn more, visit soundsacademy.org.