Claudia Teti ’16: The bulletins carry it every week. The sign-up sheet is also posted in the upper school. But what really is Free Music Fridays? In short, it is an opportunity for Episcopal students to use their musical skills to teach underprivileged children a lifelong hobby. With many schools cutting back on funds for music classes, students have become less exposed to such opportunities. Fortunately, Free Music Fridays has given these children the chance to develop their musical talents with the help of the Upper School students.
Every Friday from four to seven P.M., the group of EA students goes to the Honickman Learning Center in North Philadelphia to teach kids the fundamentals of music. “Taking these kids who are not exposed to music in any other setting or situation and having them realize that they are capable of making music is really beautiful,” said Becca Archambault ’16. “They want to tell their parents and even take the guitars home to show them what they learned.” In fact, students are allowed to take the instruments home to practice what they have learned. This ability to have guitars for the children to use is, in part, due to Alice Cooper.
Alice Cooper is a rock singer with a foundation similar to Free Music Fridays called “Solid Rock.” The primary goal of his organization is “to help meet the spiritual, economical, physical, and social needs of teenagers in our community.”
Photo Courtesy of Alex Archambault ’14
About two years ago, the group decided to contact a celebrity to help raise donations. “We called record companies and producers, and tried to sound like we were supposed to be there.” said John Hurst ’14, After finally getting hold of Alice Cooper’s producer, the rock star donated six guitars. In addition to these donations and the five previously donated guitars, pianos have also been put into the program. Both Archambault and Sarah Wingfield ’17 donated keyboards, broadening the skills available for the children to learn.
Free Music Fridays has made a large impact on the children in our surrounding community and on the Episcopal students involved as well. When asked what his favorite part of the experience was, Hurst replied, “Definitely the kids. They are really really cool. Most are interested in actually learning music, and you can see when they get something down that they are super excited about it.”
“If I teach someone a song the first week, the next week they are able to improve on that song, maybe play it with two hands,” commented Archambault on teaching the kids piano. “They get really elated to see their own progression.” For the members from Episcopal, the program is eye opening. “It’s good for students to be exposed to different lifestyles. Giving the kids this opportunity that they would otherwise not have is really fulfilling and a really important thing that we do,” explained Hurst. Both members strongly urge students to sign up, cheerfully adding that it is fun and little background knowledge is needed.