The Detroit Youth Volume is bringing music to young Detroiters' ears.
Model D reports that the non-profit is offering no-cost violin lessons to Detroit for youths 5-18, making music accessible to kids from low-income families.
David Sands of Model D reports that the five-year-old program proivdes kids with instruments at no cost and gives gas cards to parents to ease the financial burden of getting students to lessons.
Model D writes about a group of kids from Detroit's east side who are participating in the program.
Every week, about 20 young students accompanied by parents meet at the Samaritan Center on Conner near I-94 where they participate in group lessons. Clara Hardie, the organization's program director and founder, instructs the Saturday classes with fellow teacher and operations director Allison Harris and two part-time volunteers.
Astarria Lewis, 9, attends weekly classes with her 16-year-old sister Ashley Ardis, the only viola player of the group, and she's thrilled to be there. "This is a really cool and fun program," she says. "I always like learning how to play [my instrument]. I like my teachers. I like talking to my friends."