MUSICAL MENTORS EXPLORATION

Artistic discovery through developmentally-appropriate
group classes and tailored music lesson experiences

P.S. 66 – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School

Musical Mentor: Jane Lee

Green Class: 1st-3rd Grades
Tuesdays

Yellow Class: 4th & 5th Grades
Thursdays

P.S. 145 – The Bloomingdale School

Musical Mentor: Katie Gordon

Green Class: 1st and 2nd Grades
Tuesdays

Yellow Class: 3rd-5th Grades
Wednesdays

P.S. 164 – Queens Valley School of the Arts

Musical Mentor: Maksim Perepelica

Class grades and schedule TBD.

Program Overview

What
Musical Mentors Exploration (MME) partners with schools and community organizations to provide musical enrichment and opportunities for students to explore instruments, genres, and performance through weekly group classes. Students of all interests and skill levels build foundational musical skills using accessible instruments that allow them to begin playing and performing quickly. Dedicated teaching artists expand students’ knowledge over time by introducing new instruments, reinforcing prior learning, and creating opportunities for both individual and group music-making.

Who
MME is for elementary school students (grades 1-5) and middle school students (grades 6-8) (eligible grades dependent on school location) who want to learn music in a supportive and engaging group environment while also receiving individualized instruction. Students may participate as experienced instrumentalists or musical novices as the curriculum allows for varying levels of experience. Many students engage in the MME program for multiple years and develop a strong foundation of both musical and interpersonal skills. 

Students are expected to commit to the group classes for the entire duration of the program. Students who do not follow MME’s attendance policy will not be offered to privilege of taking private or small-group lessons. 

Program Tuition: 2026-2027

Tuition: $450

Tuition Options: Participants have the option to pay in full in September prior to the start of classes or commit to a payment plan via semester, for payments in September and February.

Small-Group or Private Lessons

All MME students have the opportunity to apply for and participate in free music lessons, in addition to their weekly group class.

1st and 2nd Grades: Small-Group Lessons

• Four 1-hour small-group lessons
• In-person, in the MME classroom
• Small-group lessons allow students to explore instruments and build foundational skills in a developmentally-appropriate collaborative setting.

3rd-5th Grades: Exploration Lessons – Limited Instrument Options

• Ten 30-minute private lessons
• Lessons are available online or in person, depending on the school partnership, space availability, and/or teacher availability.
• Instrument Options:
  – Drums/percussion
  – Piano/keyboard
  – Recorder
  – Voice
  – Ukulele
  – Guitar
  – Violin (for existing violin students or in-person lesson students only)
  – Clarinet (for 4th and 5th graders at P.S. 145 only)
• Students will be assigned to a teacher and an instrument based on availability.

6th-8th Grades: Exploration Lessons – All Instruments

• Five hours of private lessons (ten 30-minute lessons or five 60-minute lessons)
• Lessons are available online or in person, depending on the school partnership, space availability, and/or teacher availability.
• Students can choose any instrument of focus, dependent on Musical Mentors Academy teaching-artist availability.

Important Notes about Small-Group and Private Lessons:

Note 1: The free private lessons and small-group lessons are a bonus for MME students, outside of the after-school MME program, and cannot be guaranteed for any student. The small-group lessons and Exploration Lessons are based on mutual commitment and generosity: students giving their effort and curiosity, teaching artists and volunteer private lesson instructors giving their time and expertise.

We ask that all participants – students, families, and teachers – keep the following in mind:

• MMC will make every effort to match students with an appropriate lesson teacher who can best meet their needs. MMC cannot guarantee that a teacher will be available for every instrument at all times.
• If a lesson teacher becomes unavailable, MMC will make every effort to rematch the student with another instructor so they can complete their lessons.
• We know that sometimes schedules shift, and conflicts arise. If a student becomes unavailable or disengaged, MMC will communicate with the family and the teacher to determine next steps, including the possibility of reassigning the volunteer to another student.

Note 2: In schools where space is not available for small-group lessons, all students are offered private Exploration Lessons instead.

Note 3: MMC loans instruments to private lesson students who need one at no additional cost. Instruments must be checked out and returned at the completion of the lesson series. Small-group lesson instruments will not be allowed to go home with students.

Note 4: MMC does not provide devices for online lessons. If lessons are online, students will take lessons from one of the following devices, using the correct corresponding browser:

• Laptop or desktop computer (using the Chrome browser)
• iPad (Safari browser)
• iPhone (Safari browser)
• Android phone (Chrome browser).

Would you like your elementary or middle school to be an MME program site? Reach out to us at mme@musical-mentors.org.