Music Programs
By utilizing a combination of after school, weekend, and summer programming, AGFM has developed one of the most comprehensive string music education programs in the Southeastern United States!
After-School Violin Instruction:
A Gift For Music’s after-school program serves third through fifth grade students across five Title-1 schools in Orange County. Our program provides tuition-free group violin classes that incorporate music history, aural training, and music theory!
Our 2026 – 2027 School Year Locations:
- Engelwood Elementary School
- Forsyth Woods Elementary School
- Washington Shores Elementary School
- Riverdale Elementary School
- Ventura Elementary School
Our dedicated instructors and assistants work with students weekly in each of these schools for the entire school year, teaching them how to play their instrument while developing their creativity, self-confidence, discipline, and teamwork skills.
Contact us for more information about our After-School Program and how to enroll your student.
Saturday Strings Orchestra
A Gift for Music’s Saturday Strings Orchestra ensembles rehearse weekly during the school year and perform regularly throughout the community. Students can join our Saturday ensembles at any time in their musical careers.
Register for the 2026-2027 program here.
View the 2026-2027 Saturday Strings rehearsal & concert schedule here.
Learn more about our Saturday Strings Instructors here.
Prelude Strings is for beginning violin students and focuses on technique development and basic musicianship. Students will often spend more than one year in this level.
Alley Oop! Strings serves as an assist to prepare students whose ability level places them in between Prelude and Etude Strings. Students will build the confidence and skills needed to make the leap into our upper-level ensembles.
Etude Strings explores more in-depth string instrument techniques. Students may also switch from violin to viola, cello, or even double bass in Etude Strings.
Concert Strings stretches the skills of middle school and early high school students. Students develop their ability to make musical decisions and refine more advanced string techniques.
Camerata Strings performs original works for string orchestra that challenge students to perform expressively, form educated musical guesses, and make creative musical decisions.
Contact us for more information about our Saturday Strings Program.
Private Lessons
A Gift for Music provides one-on-one private lessons from dedicated instructors to select students enrolled in the Saturday Strings Orchestra program. Private lesson students are given the opportunity to perform both individually and cooperatively for concerts, fundraisers, and special events.
Summer Camp
A Gift for Music’s summer camp is a full week jam-packed with rehearsals, music theory, aural training, and more. The best part is that it’s a lot of FUN! This exciting camp focuses on nurturing and exploring students’ musicianship and is completely free for qualifying students.
“Whatever event in life we go through, there are a thousand years’ worth of music written by people who might’ve felt the same.”
“I’m getting to see these kids and instilling this new beginning in their lives that, hey, here’s new music and here’s a new avenue you can approach, and not just music on the radio, but something you can actively do to increase your own abilities.”
“My words of wisdom for incoming AGFM students is to just be your truest self because you’re going to love every second.”
“We take a lot of classes on teaching in school, we learn how to teach, but we don’t get a lot of hands-on classroom experience until our senior year. But thanks to A Gift For Music, I have had hands-on teaching experience since my freshman year. Working with the After-School program and Saturday strings, I get to make my own lesson plans, teach techniques, teach songs. It has been a true blessing and I feel so much better prepared now to teach than I would have without AGFM.”
AGFM has helped me combine my passion in teaching and helping others. I feel that I have grown not only as a teacher but as a person. Seeing students from different walks of life coming together to work on and perform music is such a blessing and I am thankful for the opportunities AGFM has given me over the years.
“So excited my child gets to learn violin because I always wanted to learn and couldn’t afford the classes. Great to see it’s free and the violins are provided. She knows how to play the piano and I’m so eager to add violin to her music experience. I wanted to thank you for the opportunity on her behalf. I appreciate the fact that she can participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity. Thanks sincerely.”
