Youth Music Academy

Youth Music Academy, or YMA, is a nonprofit music school-- but that's just the beginning. We're a community of people who support lifelong musical journeys for students of all ages by giving anyone and everyone access to music lessons, camps, recitals, and so much more.

YMA includes students, parents, teachers, performing artists, friends, family members, fellow musicians, and donors who believe in the benefits of a lifelong musical journey.

We teach music and provide students unique opportunities to pursue their own individual lifelong musical journey. We conduct summer music camps, create public performance opportunities for students, share the gift of music within our community, provide weekly music lessons, and customize our teaching to meet the needs of each student. We offer a total music education experience, including music theory, music history, general music, and music appreciation.

Several roles exist within the YMA family - student, parent, teacher, supporter, and donor, to name a few. While the student, parent, and teacher roles may seem obvious, it is a three-way partnership. Each partner must fulfill his/her role - students must learn, parents must encourage and support at home and at the lesson, and teachers must teach. Non-parental supporters can include friends, extended family, and community members. Donors monetarily support our mission of creating lifelong musical journeys.

Our students perform regularly at nursing homes, retirement centers, and churches throughout the year and for special occasions. Annually, we provide music for adult education graduation ceremonies. Our teachers have also provided training in strings for a new arts-based elementary school.

Students receive high quality music instruction from qualified teachers, peer interaction that sharpens their skills and challenges their achievement, and a support network that encourages them to pursue excellence in every area of their lives. They also experience music through master classes and chamber concerts with experienced performing artists. For many students, YMA opens the door for: Getting their hands on a musical instrument Private music instruction Summer music camp Participation in local youth orchestras

We currently have private music teachers offering instruction in piano, violin, viola, cello, string bass, trumpet, french horn, trombone, and voice. Some of our more advanced students participate in the YMA Chamber Ensemble, which is directed by two of our teachers.

Success for YMA is watching and helping our students grow every day into their greatest potential. Our deepest desire is to guide students in making a lasting impact not only in their own lives, but in the lives of others as well. Our success is directly linked to the success of our students-- they’re not only your most important investment, but ours as well.

Fundraising is our biggest challenge. As our scholarship needs grow for various students, our need for donor funds grows too. Establishing a permanent home is another challenge for us; we currently meet in various churches for lessons, recitals, camps, and other events. YMA needs our own building, ideally located in the North Kansas City area, just north of downtown.

A donation to YMA is an investment with unending returns. As our students grow and excel on their musical journeys, they influence and improve the world around them in numerous ways. The total impact of your donation is immeasurable, but the reward for your investment is unforgettable-- you become a part of changing lives forever.