Trinity’s Music Outreach to New York City
Trinity Church provides highly interactive educational experiences to hundreds of students in New York City through its music outreach program.
Our student-centered philosophy of education caters to the individual goals of each community. We’ve worked with multiple neighborhood organizations to help young people experience the joy of music making. During the 2024-2025 school year, we’re sending our 13 professional teaching artists and two teaching fellows to 10 sites in the city, including schools and afterschool centers. All our classes are co-taught by two expert teaching artists and our lessons are intended for all students, regardless of their music background.
We specialize in providing music education in locations where access may be unavailable due to funding and resource limitations. Our work focuses on meeting the needs and goals of each individual community to create collaborative and engaging programming.
One of our longest-running collaborations has been with the Chinese-American Planning Council. For the past 12 years, Trinity has provided music classes to over 800 students a year, including instruction in songwriting, ukulele, guitar, movement, and chorus.
If you are interested in collaborating with Trinity’s music outreach program, please contact Peyton Marion, Assistant Director of Music Education and Outreach.
Our Class Offerings
Musical Beginnings (2-4 years) – This early education course focuses on music as a vehicle for fine and gross motor skill development, social-emotional learning, and creative play.
Music and Movement (Grades K-2) – This course integrates music with movement and emphasizes social-emotional development. Students are taught to make music as a group, with an eye towards advancing the class as a whole.
Chorus (Grades 2-12) – This group singing class helps students learn repertoire from all genres, while building general music literacy skills.
Recorder (Grade 4) – Using curriculum from Carnegie Hall’s Link Up program, students in this class learn to play the recorder. This course includes a culminating performance at Carnegie Hall.
Ukelele (Grades 2-4) – In this beginner ukelele class, students explore music from all genres and enhance their music literacy, ensemble, and solo playing skills. Students also learn to play while singing.
Guitar (Grade 5 and High School) – These beginning and advanced classes are for students who have taken ukelele or have previous musical experience. Students play popular music and build solo and ensemble skills. Students will learn to play while singing.
Songwriting and Technology (Grades 3-4 and High School) – This group class explores song structure and creation through poetry, music history, music theory and music technologies.
Collaborating Organizations and Sites
Chinese-American Planning Council
Chrystie Street Center
School-age Child Care Center at PS 130
School-age Child Care Center at PS 2
School-age Child Care Center at PS 124
High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies
Chinese Methodist Center Corporation
Mei Wah Center
NYC Department of Education
PS 19Q
Henry Street Settlement
Jacob Riis Cornerstone
Afterschool at PS 134
University Settlement
Early Childhood Center at 184 Eldridge Street