Play It Forward

Integral Steps is proud to announce an inspiring new initiative:

PLAY IT FORWARD

Play it forward provides private music lesson scholarships for motivated young musicians. In exchange, they "play it forward" by volunteering their own time to help others

"The beautiful concept of helping others succeed ... shines brightly through this program, and being a part of it has shaped the way that I look at the world."
- Sarah Hicks, Play It Forward Scholarship Program Graduate

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Play It Forward is a win / win / win:
Students receive private lesson scholarships, the community receives dedicated volunteers and donors see their contributions make double the difference.

How it works

Generous individuals and businesses in the community donate funds to provide private lessons to Atlanta's most dedicated young musicians with financial need.

For every hour of lessons they receive, students "pay it forward" by donating an hour to a volunteer organization of their choice. Donors watch the impact of their contributions multiply.

Interested? Want to learn more or apply?
Visit our special Play It Forward site by clicking here!

What do our students have to say?

Sarah's Story

When I was in the Play It Forward program, I was teaching 3rd graders how to do math while I was being taught how to play the french horn.
In both situations, I learned so much about how to become a better musician who communicates more meaningful music to an audience alongside learning about how to become a better teacher who communicates more effectively with her students.
I was fulfilled so much in both experiences, and I truly believe that Play It Forward has played a key role in my success in music school and in my future career as a music educator.

Read more of Sarah's story here!

“Being a part of the Play It Forward Program not only allowed me to grow and to succeed as a musician, but it also inspired me to be a better person. Through service and through phenomenal instruction on the French horn, I learned that serving others and helping them to succeed in their own lives is equally if not more important than succeeding in your own.”

- Sarah Hicks, Play It Forward Scholarship Intern with Integral Steps

The History Behind Play It Forward...

The Play It Forward Scholarship Program began a pilot program in Atlanta, Georgia in 2015 under the direction of co-founders Jessica Sherer and Kimberley Lorch Perrins. During that year, the first PIF student donated 1 hour of her time to a carbon offsetting project called Trees Atlanta for ever 1 hour of private lesson she received. Her lesson tuition was paid for by a PIF scholarship, which was funded by generous individual donors and businesses. Since then PIF has expanded to reach students across Atlanta and across multiple instrument categories, and has been operating successfully for over 5 years.

A New Beginning

Play It Forward and Integral Steps were already well acquainted before 2020 - the year PIF found a home with us. Since this inspiring beginning, PIF Co-Founder Jessica Sherer and Integral Steps Co-Director Emma Shubin had collaborated on projects, presentations, and funding for music education programming. In 2016, they won the C.R.E.A.T.E. Project Competition through the National Flute Association and presented the PIF program to the national convention in San Diego.

After multiple years as separate partner organizations but with Directors working together towards similar goals, the Play It Forward Scholarship Program found its official home within Integral Steps! Integral Steps is honored to offer this initiative to our Colorado community, as well as continue to foster the scholarship program in Atlanta and beyond!

“As the Play It Forward program provides quality music education to students at no cost while engaging them in new and vital relationships through service in their communities, Integral Steps provides students of all ages and backgrounds with an integrated education experience involving mind, body, and social/emotional engagement, while supporting balanced development. These missions are beautifully compatible and feel inextricably linked to me! I am delighted to be a part of the new phase of this relationship between two incredible organizations, and I am committed to making sure Integral Steps feels like the most comfortable new home for the Play It Forward Scholarship Program."

- Cora Crisman, Integral Steps Scholarship Coordinator