Connecting BYSO to our community through a suite of cost-free programs designed to bring music education experiences into the lives of students.
In BYSO’s 2024–25 Season, we created a suite of new programs that sought to create new connections between BYSO and students in our community on the Eastside. After a year of testing new programs and partnerships, what we discovered was that there are wonderful opportunities to connect our incredible music teachers with public schools and after-school care programs. This year of discovery allowed us to expand and more clearly define community music education outreach efforts. Our Bridges Initiative programs, formally launched in Fall of 2025, bring high-quality music education experiences directly to students while at school or after-care programs free of charge. The two programs currently offered are:
- Music Lessons in Public Schools
- Group Music Workshops in After-School Care Programs
In January of 2026, we received notice that Bridges was selected to receive $200,000 in funding over two years from 4Culture as part of their Curiosity Pass grant program. This news has allowed us to expand our efforts. We are currently collaborating with Bellevue School District, Lake Washington School District, Renton School District, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue and working with over 400 students.
For the remainder of the 2025-2026 academic year, we are specifically interested in providing coaching for endangered instruments (oboe, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba). Coaching for the 2026-2027 academic year will be open to all orchestral string and wind instruments.
If you are interested in learning more about our Bridges Initiative programs and wish to explore if it would be a good fit to bring our music educators to your school and/or program, please learn more below.
Music Lessons in Public Schools
This program pairs BYSO’s professional musician coaches with students to provide individual and/or small group lessons within the school day at your school. Each lesson will be approximately 30 minutes once a week for a 10-week block with the opportunity to renew. Designed for students who do not already have access to private lessons on their instrument, this program will deepen participating students’ relationships with the instrument and improve their ability.
If you are interested in this program, please email admin@byso.org, and include your school, student grades, instrument(s) for which you are requesting lessons, number of students on each instrument, day(s) of the week that works best for you & time blocks on those days, and date you would like to start. Please note that priority consideration will be given to Title I schools and the following instruments: oboe, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba. At this time, we are only able to offer this to schools located within King County.
Group Music Workshops
This season, BYSO is offering a 4-week workshop, centered on introducing students to percussion music through bucket drumming. Each session is 1-hour long and can accommodate up to 20 students. Although this workshop is currently being offered exclusively in after-school care programs, it is possible to bring it to a public school classroom during the school day.
If you are interested in this program, please email admin@byso.org, and include your school/organization, student grades, day(s) of the week that works best for you & time blocks on those days, and date you would like to start. Please note that priority consideration will be given to Title I schools. At this time, we are only able to offer this to organizations and schools located within King County.
