Afternoon Tunes is an initiative of All Saints Church that was founded in 2009, in partnership with the Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester, to provide a quality music education experience and long-term mentorship to students who would not otherwise be able to afford instruments or private instruction. Afternoon Tunes lessons take place at All Saints, September-June, on Friday afternoons when the Worcester Public schools are in session. All students perform in recitals in December and late May. The program began its sixth year in September 2014. Afternoon Tunes works collaboratively with area high schools, colleges, and music schools to recruit teachers, who offer lessons on piano, violin, saxophone, guitar, flute, and drums, as well as a group recorder class. The group class is open both to students in private lessons and students on the program’s waiting list. We currently serve 50 students, with 30 in private lessons and the rest in recorder classes. For the volunteers and families of Afternoon Tunes, human connection and joy are at the heart of musical endeavors, and this philosophy infuses our work. Over the years, the Afternoon Tunes program has evolved from a group of passionate volunteers and eager students to a true community of parents, students, and volunteers. Afternoon Tunes is supported by a grant from the Worcester Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
