Apply to Teach

Musical Mentor applications will be accepted
in late summer and early fall for the 2026-2027 school year.

Share your music. Change a life.

At Musical Mentors Collaborative, every teacher – whether a seasoned professional, an emerging educator, or a committed music lover – plays a vital role in shaping the future of music. We believe that great mentorship meets students where they are, igniting curiosity, building confidence, and opening doors that might otherwise remain closed.

We are a collaborative of artists, educators, and volunteers who believe every child deserves access to music. Through our programs, we provide free or subsidized one-on-one lessons, group classes, instruments, and sustained mentorship. Together, we are breaking down barriers and creating equity in music education.

Become a Musical Mentor

At Musical Mentors Collaborative (MMC), we know that music education changes lives – not just for students, but for the teachers and mentors who guide them, too. Our mentors come from a wide range of backgrounds and experience levels, and we carefully match each one with the right students and teaching opportunities. 

When you apply to become a Musical Mentor, you may be placed in one of three mentor tiers based on your experience, training, and teaching background: Founding Mentor, Associate Mentor, or Principal Mentor.

All mentor tiers are essential to our mission, and each plays a unique role in shaping the next generation of musicians and music lovers.

Musical Mentors have teaching opportunities within both our Musical Mentors Exploration and Musical Mentors Academy programs:

Musical Mentors Exploration (MME):
– after-school, in-person music exploration group classes for elementary and middle school students
– Musical Mentors serve as a teaching assistant in group classes or teach small-group lessons

Musical Mentors Academy (MMA):
– private lessons for beginning, intermediate, and advanced student musicians, usually 3rd grade and older
– Musical Mentors teach private lessons, both online and in person (depending on location)
– Students take either 30-minute or 60-minute lessons

 

Founding Mentor

Founding Mentors are the heart of MMC, carrying forward the spirit in which our organization was created – musicians giving their time and talent to ensure every student has access to music education. They inspire curiosity, joy, and confidence in beginners, often guiding students through their very first private lesson experience. Without Founding Mentors, our mission would not be possible.

Undergraduate students are ONLY eligible for Founding Mentor positions.

Student Profile: Typically, beginner students taking exploration lessons for the first time, though our Founding Mentors can teach students of all levels and on a wide range of instruments/genres.

Teaching Load: 1-3 students per year (some receiving ten 30-minute lessons, some receiving ten 60-minute lessons)

Experience Required: Strong proficiency on your instrument, ability to create individualized lesson plans with MMC support, and enthusiasm for mentoring through music.

You are: A musician – whether or not you’ve taught before – who wants to inspire and guide students, helping them discover the joy of music. Founding Mentors are typically undergraduate or graduate students who are currently enrolled in a college/university.

 

Associate Mentor

Associate Mentors are highly skilled musicians and developing educators who work with committed students ready to advance beyond the basics. They bring a blend of technical skill, musicality, and growing teaching expertise, helping students deepen their abilities and passion for music.

Student Profile: Typically, late elementary and middle school students who have studied their instrument for at least one year and are moving past the exploration stage. Associate Mentors can also teach students of all levels and on a wide range of instruments/genres, depending on their experience.

Teaching Load: 1-3 students per year (some receiving ten 30-minute lessons, some receiving ten 60-minute lessons)

Experience Required: Undergraduate or graduate degree in music performance, music education, or similar, OR an undergraduate degree (not in music), with significant prior teaching experience or pedagogy-specific training.

Benefits:

— $30 / 60-minute lesson, $15 / 30-minute lesson
— 50 hours free on Virtu.Academy’s Forte Lessons platform
— 1 Grand Mentor lesson per student taught

 

Principal Mentor

*** Limited Principal Mentor positions are available at this time.

Principal Mentors are highly trained educators and professional musicians working with MMC’s most advanced students. They provide in-depth, high-level instruction, and their expertise and mentorship set the standard for excellence in our programs.

Student Profile: Typically our most advanced and highest need students – usually middle school and high school – who are serious about their musical study and/or want to build a lasting relationship with their Musical Mentor.

Teaching Load: 1-2 students per year (most receiving ten one-hour lessons)

Experience Required: Undergraduate or graduate degree in music performance, music education, or similar, AND significant prior teaching experience and pedagogy-specific training.

Benefits:

— $60 / 60-minute lesson, $30 / 30-minute lesson
— 50 hours free on Virtu.Academy’s Forte Lessons platform
— 1 Grand Mentor lesson per student taught

Musical Mentor Benefits

No matter your tier – Founding, Associate, Principal, or Grand – every MMC Musical Mentor is part of a community that values artistry, collaboration, and growth. We invest in our mentors, just as we invest in our students, ensuring you have the tools, support, and opportunities to thrive. 

Lessons with Grand Mentors
MMC’s Grand Mentors are leading musicians in their fields, from award-winning performers to industry-recognized educators. They offer free lessons and coaching to mentors who give back to our mission, helping you strengthen your teaching, refine your artistry, and continue growing as a musician. This is individualized professional and artistic development from the very best.

Scholarships for Founding Mentors *
Founding Mentors who are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs can apply for scholarship funds through MMC’s Tom Levine Scholarship Fund at the end of the school year. Founding Mentors have access to incentive scholarship for their teaching ($15/30-min lesson and $10/group class or small-group lesson), as well as merit scholarship for mentors who go above and beyond or contribute meaningfully as members of the university chapter E-Board.

Professional Development & Training
We provided teaching resources and host professional development events for mentors, offering training on pedagogy, student engagement, and mentorship best practices. These sessions are designed to sharpen your skills, inspire new ideas, and ensure you feel supported in every teaching scenario.

Networking Opportunities
From local gatherings to national events, MMC provides in-person and online networking opportunities for mentors at all levels – Founding, Associate, Principal, and Grand. These events connect you with fellow musicians and educators, building a supportive, mission-driven community.

Free Use of Forte Lessons Platform (Principal & Associate Mentors)
MMC partners with Virtu.Academy to deliver most of our Academy lessons on their Forte Lessons platform. Normally a paid service, the Forte Lessons platform is provided free to our Associate and Principal Mentors, giving you high-quality tools for MMC teaching and additional hours of platform usage for personal use at no cost to teach your own students (outside of MMC programming). Principal and Associate Mentors also have the option to upgrade to a paid, unlimited-use membership at 30% off!

More Grand Mentor Time and More Forte Lessons Usage
For our Principal and Associate Mentors, volunteering your time to teach additional students unlocks even greater benefits, including additional lessons with Grand Mentors (1 additional lesson per student) and additional use of Virtu.Academy’s Forte Lessons online platform (50 additional hours per student). This is our way of honoring those who give back to MMC’s mission beyond their paid teaching, creating a cycle of generosity, artistry, and impact.

* Only Founding Mentors who are enrolled university students are eligible to apply for the Tom Levine Scholarship Fund.

Why Teach with MMC? 

• Be part of a mission-driven community dedicated to expanding access to quality music education.
• Receive training, resources, and support from MMC staff.
• Connect with fellow mentors at networking and professional development events.
• Know that your teaching is transforming students’ lives and building a more equitable musical landscape.

 

Musical Mentor applications will be accepted
in late summer and early fall for the 2026-2027 school year.