Project Launch: 3-6-23

The 5PM Porch Music Program demonstrates a unique, local response to deficits resulting from Covid which continue on to this day: gathering highly diverse local audiences in safe, public venues to build a stronger sense of community, drawing upon talented musicians (who are also great teachers), and celebrating the creativity of young people who suffered from several years of isolation. It does so by providing a high quality, free music education to middle school and high schools school youth from Title I schools in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Through a) intensive mentorship with local professional musicians, b) original composition workshops, c) large weekly ensemble rehearsals and d) audience participatory multigenerational community concerts, youth participants develop their skills as creative artists and explore the role of music in community building. Every private lesson takes place outdoors on neighborhood porches in Flatbush, emphasizing our belief that the learning and sharing of music is a community project. Having students play alongside world-class professional musicians is an effort to democratize the idea of performance; each voice has something valuable to contribute.

With support from NYC Connect, the 5PM Porch Music Program in 2023 will take place at several locations in the Kensington and Flatbush neighborhoods. The weekly lessons and writing sessions will continue to take place on the porches of generous neighbors on the blocks surrounding the Newkirk Plaza subway station. Weekly rehearsals will continue to take place in the backyard of Jalsa Grill & Gravy, an Indian restaurant located on the border of Flatbush and Kensington. And, in collaboration with the AllinOne Collective, Flatbush Development Corporation and Arts & Democracy, end-of-season concerts will take place in public outdoor spaces including Newkirk Plaza, Avenue C Plaza, Newkirk Avenue Open Streets, Cortelyou Road Open Streets, The Church and on neighborhood porches.  All venues are on public streets so entirely accessible to persons with disabilities.