Have you heard?! This fall, we launched a targeted new program for students aged 13-18 that provides a high quality, classical music education, but also introduces skills like team work, critical thinking, leadership and public speaking. It’s called SLAM: Service, Leadership And Mentorship.
SLAM students have opportunities to: obtain required service hours for high school through volunteering (Service), grow as leaders through the unique challenges of chamber music (Leadership), mentor a younger TPMS student and be paired with an adult mentor for college/life preparation (Mentorship).
SLAM students meet for 3 hours each week on Saturday afternoons – in addition to their weekly individual lessons, ensemble participation and leadership workshops, they meet with TPMS staff and mentors to develop and work toward musical, personal, and academic/career goals. They also participate in many of our amazing artistic residencies and partnerships. Of the 500 students we serve, over 160 are middle or high schoolers. This year, 25 of those eligible students are piloting and helping us build this enrichment program. We will be growing each year!
SLAM Program Manager, Sarah Morrow, is enthusiastic about the potential impact the program will have on participants lives: “Students are developing their own presence or voice on and off the instrument through this program. I try to link the concepts we cover musically to real world situations such as interviews, auditions, and college/life experiences to show the students that what we learn in music can be a tool for life. The goal is that they will take what they are learning at SLAM and apply it to every part of their life.“
Through our Friends of TPMS program, mentors help students with high school placement and college applications, resumes, portfolios and audition preparation as applicable. Interested in joining as a mentor? Submit an interest form on the Friends of TPMS web page to get the conversation started!