The COVID-19 pandemic was hard on many groups—especially kids and teens who felt more isolated than ever before. Without school to bring them together, they turned to social media for connection, and their stress, anxiety, and depression collectively increased.
Enter Music For Teen Mental Health, or M4TMH, 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded by Alexander, a top bassoon player for his age group here in Colorado. He’s currently 15 but has been playing music since he was six, and he’s experienced firsthand the power of music to calm a busy mind.
“Playing really calms me down when I’m stressed with school,” says Alexander. “I want to bring people together and give them the opportunity to play music.”
Alexander assembled a core team of talented musicians to use their skills for good. His brother Aidan (12) has been playing piano since he was six and began saxophone last year. Jiyu (15) has been playing violin since she was five, and Sarah (also 15) has been playing piano since she was five and began flute in 5th grade.
Together, they’re united in their purpose of spreading positivity and introducing more people to the power of music. The quartet raises money for Rise Against Suicide, a nonprofit that funds therapy sessions for at-risk youth in Boulder, Longmont, and the surrounding areas. To date, they’ve raised $2,000 for the organization, and their goal for the year is $5,000.
To help achieve this goal, they put on concerts every 2-3 months, mostly at senior centers. Jiyu especially enjoys the process of selecting the music and putting together the program.
“We get to choose our own repertoire,” says Jiyu, “And we can showcase lesser known composers.”
By performing as M4TMH, the group has more freedom than when they’re with other, larger groups around Colorado, such as Denver Young Artists Orchestra and Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras. Plus, they get to invite other friends to perform with them and can organize the whole show.
At a recent performance on March 29th, they highlighted Mikhail Glinka, the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country. He doesn’t get played as often as artists like Bach or Mozart, and they enjoy being able to bring music out of relative obscurity for new audiences.
Performing in this way has also brought them an even deeper love of the music, as they can clearly see the impact of bringing music to their community. After the concerts, audience members often come up to tell them how appreciative they are.
It’s also an outlet for another shared passion amongst the group: teaching. M4TMH offers free lessons for kids and teens, and they teach piano and violin via Zoom. Alexander taught his brother, Aidan, to play when he was younger, and he has loved watching him grow in his music. By teaching groups who might otherwise not have access to lessons, such as minority groups, they hope to boost the feeling of belonging amongst their peers.
To donate to their organization and to learn how to get involved, head to MusicForTeenMentalHealth.org.