Salvation Army Kroc Center kicks off free music program Saturday

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Salvation Army Kroc Center is turning up the volume on music education for youth by providing an exciting free opportunity for kids to explore their musical talents.

Andrew Sanders, Marketing Manager at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, agrees that the best part is typically the courses are free, eliminating a barrier for eager youth to learn and getting a chance to shine.

"Music lessons can be expensive. Getting that type of service and that type of teaching can be a little bit of a challenge or a barrier for a lot of parents and for a lot of families. If you have a kid who's, you know, constantly banging on your pots and pans all day, bring them in for a percussion class,” said Sanders. “If you have a kid who is constantly singing all the time, and you might want to train that, and see how far they can get with it, bring them in for vocal lessons and see, see where that talent can take them, see if they have a true interest in it. We're just very proud to offer that for the youth in our community.”

The free music program kicks off the series of music sessions Saturday where they will be offering hands-lessons in band, vocals, and guitar. The other available sessions include March 22, April 12, and May 10.

Once a month, kids can engage with like-minded individuals from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where students will be trained by seasoned musicians provided by the Salvation Army.

The event is expected to fill up quickly as there are only 40 spots available, so officials encourage you to sign up now.

“If you have a child who's interested in, you know, trying a new skill, getting into the fine arts, or learning about music in some way, by all means, sign them up. It's for ages 9 and up. And we are always looking to welcome new people into our Kroc family,” said Sanders.

Students will be able to sign up for one session without committing to all four. The program invites the community to discover their talents, build skills, and connect with others through the joy of music.

If you are looking for a more one-on-one session, the Kroc center offers individual paid lessons starting at $20.

For low-income families, the center is offering an after-school program that accepts vouchers and scholarships for education in music to ensure no one is left out.

It doesn't stop there. If you are a member of the Kroc Center, you can get access to a recording studio and variety of fine art programs.

You can visit the Salvation Army Kroc Center’s website to explore the resources for youth to explore their musical talents.