About | Music Buddies

ABOUT MUSIC BUDDIES

Music Buddies is a program designed to pair budding musicians (e.g. middle/elementary schoolers) with more advanced musicians (e.g. high schoolers), in order to give younger buddies an opportunity to work with an experienced tutor and allow older buddies a chance to develop their skills in music leadership and education.

WHY IT BEGAN

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many elementary students fell behind when they joined band and orchestra, because virtual instruction does not easily facilitate teaching an instrument.

In later years, these students, especially those who did not have access to private teachers outside of school, were often unprepared for more rigorous music.

As a result, this program was developed to pair advanced high school musicians with their middle or elementary school counterparts on their instruments/voice parts and organize annual end-of-the-year concerts to give young musicians, especially those without access to private teachers, a chance to work with a tutor, grow musically, and receive performance opportunities (as virtual instruction often canceled many school concerts).

Accomplished high school/older musicians are assigned a “buddy”, or a student in the younger grades, to create music together.

Accomplished high school/older musicians are assigned a “buddy”, or a student in the younger grades, to create music together. All instrumentalists (including pianists)/vocalists are welcome.

Younger buddies will:

Learn from their buddies and enhance their musical ability
Be able to meet and discuss with an older, more experienced student about music opportunities, high school life/future pathways, and more
Have the opportunity to perform
Develop positive relationship with music and discover the joy in playing an instrument/singing

Older buddies will:

Gain experience in music coaching and education
Exemplify their leadership
Possibly earn community service hours/internship credit

To ensure the safety of all participants, younger buddies must submit a signed parental consent form before joining the program. Tutoring sessions typically take place over Zoom, while in-person meetings only happen when school music teacher is present. Before being paired, older buddies receive training on how to effectively instruct their younger buddies, and the district liaison checks in with each pairing periodically throughout the year to provide support and oversight.

HOW IT WORKS

TUTORING SESSIONS

The notion of “creating music” encompasses a wide range of possibilities.

Each buddy pairing can individually decide what to work on during tutoring sessions based on their own goals and situations.

For example, tutoring sessions could consist of:

Aiding younger students with practicing school ensemble pieces
Reviewing NYSSMA/music exam pieces/any music younger students are working on
Play a duet with the student to further develop their musical skills and build their musical confidence
Develop a bond between fellow musicians!

Meet the Founder

Sarah Sun

Sarah Sun is a senior and saxophonist from Long Island, NY, and an incoming student at Harvard University, where she will be pursuing a Dual-Degree with the New England Conservatory. She first founded Music Buddies as a sophomore in the Great Neck Public Schools district to connect younger students with teen mentors through music. Now, as part of the North American Saxophone Alliance Committee on Gender Equity Mentoring Program, she is working with her mentor, Dr. Gail Levinsky, to expand the initiative and reach more young musicians across the country.