The Gift of Music

Scrollworks offers Birmingham-area residents a top-dollar musical
education, free of charge.

BY LORI K. DITORO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB CULPEPPER

Long ago, before college-prep courses and debates over charter schools, music lessons were considered an integral part of any well-rounded student’s education. Today, though studies show musical training has a positive effect on learning, the art has been relegated to an extracurricular activity. And with school funding cuts and the high price of private lessons and instruments, many children don’t have the opportunity to participate.

Scrollworks, a Birmingham-based nonprofit group staffed by accomplished musicians, works every day to change that by offering people in the Birmingham area a chance to learn to play a musical instrument. The educational arm of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestras of Central Alabama (MYO), Scrollworks began three years ago and now teaches about 150 students in the Birmingham area each week. Being able to offer this service is “powerful,” says Jeane Goforth, the MYO’s CEO.

“When we formed our youth orchestra, we noticed that it was made up mostly of kids who could afford private lessons, and it wasn’t as diverse as we had hoped,” says Jeane, who, along with the other founders of the MYO, began the orchestras to bring children from all over the city together to play music. The group realized that, because of spending cuts and other factors, many inner-city children weren’t receiving the musical training needed to participate in the youth orchestra. Inspired by the El Sistema program in Venezuela (which began as an afterschool program teaching 11 kids in a garage, and now, 30 years later, teaches 300,000), Jeane and the other founders formed Scrollworks to give all children the benefits of playing an instrument. “It’s been proven that it helps with both math scores and language skills,” Jeane continues. “One of the things that we feel is important for the kids, once they develop their musical skills, is to become part of an ensemble because we think that helps them learn to get along as well.” Students don’t have to make appointments or register to be a part of the Scrollworks program— they simply have to walk in and pick up an instrument. And they’re encouraged to try out as many as they want.

“It’s a really good way for kids to find out what instrument they’re suited for,” Jeane says. “Some kids get assigned an instrument when they walk into band, and it’s not always the best fit. This way, they can try all the different instruments and find the one that speaks to them.”

Scrollworks also loans instruments to the children so they can practice at home. Raven Bice, a 15-year-old student from McCalla, initially took advantage of borrowing a violin. “I’ve always liked music, but we just couldn’t find anywhere [to take lessons] that we could afford,” Raven says. “When we heard about this, we decided to try it—we were so excited.” After she started the program, Raven’s parents were so proud of her accomplishments that they saved up to buy her a violin of her own for her birthday. “Scrollworks allowed me to have such a wonderful opportunity to play music and have a great time and find something that I’m really passionate about and that I’m good at,” Raven says. “It’s great that I found that.”

Jeane says that many participants may have an opportunity for more than just music lessons and positive reinforcement: What they learn at Scrollworks can also make them eligible for scholarships. She often encourages students to play the viola— an instrument orchestras typically struggle to find. Because of this, many viola scholarships are offered.William Jones, III, a 12- year-old from East Point, decided to take Jeane’s advice when she suggested that he try the viola about two years ago. He’s been playing it ever since and plans to audition for the Alabama School of Fine Arts next year.
While William enjoys his instructors and the flexibility of his lessons, his mother, Aimee, admits that what drew them to Scrollworks initially was the free lessons. “Free lessons and you get all these talented teachers,” she says. “Scrollworks is one of the best places that you could get lessons. I don’t think that you could pay for lessons any better than what you get here.”

Scrollworks depends on community members for financial support, donated instruments and teachers. For more information on how you can get involved visit myorch.org.

Get Involved
You don’t have to be a child to take advantage of Scrollworks’ lessons— adults are welcome too! Scrollworks currently provides lessons at the following locations:
CENTRAL PARK UNITED METHODIST
4616 Terrace Rd.W.
Birmingham,AL 35208                                                                                                                                   Wednesdays: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for piano, guitar and violin Thursdays: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for woodwinds and drums
HIGHLANDS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1045 20th St. S.
Birmingham,AL 35205
Fridays: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for piano, guitar, woodwinds and strings Saturdays: 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. for piano, drums, guitar, woodwinds, trumpet and strings (Call about voice.)