Play It Forward Youth Orchestra | Philly Music Factory

Play it Forward Orchestra

Student-Driven Music Learning and Performance

Play It Forward Orchestra's mission is to bring together a diverse group of Philadelphia youth representing different neighborhoods, experience levels and ages to learn and perform music together.

Core Principles:
Service
Collaboration
Leadership
Compassion
Respect
Collective Joy

The Play It Forward Orchestra is a mixed instrumental ensemble of two participation levels, mentees and mentors. The mentee cohort comprises students with fewer years of experience and less access to lesson and performance opportunities either due to financial or other barriers. The mentor cohort are students with a strong command of their instrument and experience with ensemble playing. Via the guidance of the orchestra's teaching artists facilitators, both cohorts are provided a platform that supports relationship building, peer to peer learning and fun through music. Play It Forward participants work together to reach the goal of presenting a concert that features classic and current popular hits.

How To Join

Application Deadline is Monday, February 24th

The 2025 program runs on March 2nd-May 11th, 3-5pm at Philly Music Factory (2100 Chestnut St, 2nd Fl). The final performance is TBD.

Play It Forward is accepting 8 mentees and 12 mentors for the March 2nd-May 11th session.

Interested families should complete an application form. Additional follow up may be required, which may include a call, zoom audition, video submission and/or in person meeting.

Read below for more information on how to apply.

Instrumentalists and Vocalists are Welcome to Apply

Play It Forward welcomes a variety of musicians to apply. The orchestra is certainly seeking rhythm section players as well as classical instrumentalists.

For Mentee Cohort

Eligible mentees must be within 4th and 10th grade and between no and beginner music experience. Mentees should have passion for learning and self-motivation for independent practice. Mentees should demonstrate a desire for music learning and performance exposure. It is important that mentees are interested in meeting new people, making new friends, taking instruction and participating constructively.

Since there are limited spots available, not all applicants will be accepted. Along with completing an application, mentees and families should be prepared to participate in selection interviews. Nevertheless, we encourage you to apply. If you are not selected for this Play It Forward session, we would like to know your interests and have your contact so that we can consider you for other opportunities.

Click to Apply for the Mentee Cohort

For Mentor Cohort

Eligible mentors must be within 7th and 12th grade with three or more years learning music. Mentors should have intermediate to advance level in music. Mentors must have strong competency with their instrument. Sight reading is a benefit, but not mandatory. Mentors must demonstrate a passion for learning and collaboration. Along with skills and passion for music, Mentors are expected to be strong communicators, compassionate, thoughtful and sincere. Along with completing an application, mentors should be prepared to participate in interviews and submit playing samples.

Since there are limited spots available, not all applicants will be accepted. Nevertheless, we encourage you to apply. If you are not selected for this Play It Forward session, we would like to know your interests and have your contact so that we can consider you for other opportunities

Click to Apply for the Mentor Cohort

Questions

Please contact Philly Music Factory's program director, Vince Johnson, with questions at vincelemuel@gmail.com.

Impact:
-Served 7 Mentees ranging from 4-8th grade
-Served 5 Mentors ranging from 8-10th grade
-83.3% of Mentees reported that PIF “Very Frequently” helped them learn new skills
-83.3% of Mentees reported that they felt supported by the teacher and students with more experience
-100% of Mentors reported that the opportunity to be a mentor provides an opportunity to do good for the community with their music talents
-100% of Mentors reported that this program helped them to work on leadership skills
-80% of the mentors reported that this program helped improve their communication skills
-100% reported they would like to participate in this program again
-100% of parents reports that this program increased their child’s self confidence
-100% of parents reported that this program increased opportunities for their child to express themselves creatively
-100% reported this program increased their child’s capacity for teamwork
-100% of parents reported that they did not have access to free music programming prior to Play It Forward, and that the programming being free was a major impact on their child's ability to participate

Need
- There has been a steady decline of music education in schools. Although there are many strong music educational organizations, there are limits in the personnel and supplies needed to meet the demands of Classical and Jazz education. Legacy music education organizations and traditional teaching methods often fail to acknowledge the prevalence and potency of colloquial exchange of music. In the history of rock music, R&B hip hop, there are many prominent examples of impactful musicians that learned how to play music among their friend groups via peer to peer knowledge exchange. More young people could be experiencing the power of musicianship if our communities expand the concept of what music learning can be.

How
- The Play It Forward Orchestra brings together students of various experience levels in music, ranging from beginner to advanced to develop to make and perform music together. Participants with experience are encouraged to mentor peers with less experience. Participants with more experience are also expected to pick up instruments and hardware they have little to no experience in. Beginners are provided with instruments to take home. Beginner music makers are encouraged to engage their more experienced peers for knowledge. For all levels, music software, hardware and a variety of interdisciplinary devices like DJIng, poetry and animation are taught in workshops to support students with exploring unique ways to collaborate and learn music peer to peer.

Vision

Provide each child with appreciation and capacity related to music along with skills for collaboration and community building.