UpBeat NYC Programming
UpBeat NYC is an open-door community music center in the South Bronx, offering free, comprehensive music education for students of all backgrounds.
Our teaching artists—accomplished working musicians from across New York City—provide instruction and mentorship from students' first encounters with music through to advanced ensemble performance and paid internships.
Working in a community that has experienced decades ofmarginalization and exclusion from New York's vast cultural resources, we are proud to celebrate the South Bronx’s rich musical heritage while helping shape its future. From classical repertoire to Afro-Latin jazz, our students explore diverse musical traditions within a supportive environment.
Through the joy of making music together, our students build confidence and collaboration skills, accessing opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable to them. At UpBeat, playing music becomes an act of both personal empowerment and community building—because when everyone has a part to play, we all move forward together.
More Than Music
More than a music program, UpBeat serves as a second home where students find safety, nourishment, and mentorship. We connect families to essential resources while breaking barriers in classical music – as students see themselves in instructors who share their backgrounds and experiences.
- Our Programs -
Paper Orchestra, Ages 5-6
Introduction to music for our youngest students, building foundational skills with handmade paper instruments.
Beginning Strings & Winds, Ages 6+
First steps with real instruments, developing technical skillsand musical literacy through group classes and weeklyprivate lessons.
Ensemble Progression, Ages 8-21
Students advance through group lessons and performance,from beginner ensembles to youth orchestra and Afro-Latinjazz band.
Advanced Opportunities, Ages 12+
Support for students interested in prestigious summer programs and specialized high school and college prep.
Internships, Ages 14+
Paid opportunities for older students in teaching andinstrument repair, building career skills and economic opportunity.
Community Performances, All Ages
Regular concerts and performances throughout NYC, celebrating our community’s achievements and connecting to broader audiences.
- Program Classes -
Group Lessons – Not all musical progress is achieved in the isolation of a practice room. Studying instrumental performance in a group allows children to experience music within a context of friends and fun. Working alongside peers, students learn that making mistakes is a necessary part of everyone’s learning process. Through repetition and polish of technical exercises and repertoire as well as a focus on expressive interpretation, participants become confident musical soloists and ensemble players.
Private Lessons – Each child’s abilities and their motivations to learn are personal and unique. Our teachers understand this and approach the private lesson as an opportunity to develop strengths, address weaknesses and promote an overall attitude of patience and persistence. Private lessons allow time for children to develop at their own pace and set achievable personal goals.
Ensemble Rehearsals – The experience of playing in a large ensemble is one of the great joys of music. Interchangeably playing roles of both leaders and supporters, our young musicians discover the value of their voices to both shine and embrace. The skills and sensitivities learned in private and group lessons are combined with those of their peers across the orchestra to interpret repertoire from many cultures and genres.