My Voice Music classes take place at 8911 SE Stark. All classes are pay-what-you-can-afford, no questions asked. To obtain a scholarship, visit our Play It Forward page. Many classes have Rolling Registration, which means they can be joined in the middle of a season.

 
 
 
 

CLASSES

Classes at MVM are artist mentorship programs that focus on personal development and musical skills, culminating in the recording and performing of songs written during the term. Students must be willing to collaborate with a diverse group of participants with varying degrees of musical experience – attitude is everything!

 

AMPLIFY

AMPLIFY are year-round artist mentorship programs where students meet each week to collaborate, write, record, jam, and explore musical concepts with a group. The three tiers of AMPLIFY group students by age and musical ability. At each program bands are made with considerations of skill-level, ability, and perspective so that each group can create collaborative music that they are proud of. Sessions often include rehearsals for upcoming performances, recording, songwriting, and collaborative jam sessions. Read below for tier details.

 

AMPLIFY JR

AMPLIFY Jr. is a year-round mentorship program that meets weekly for students ages 9-11 with, or without, previous musical experience. This is the class for students with limited musical experience, such as those who have attended an MVM Rock Camp or two, as well as those between ages 9-11 who have been with MVM for multiple sessions.

Time: Mondays, 4:00-5:30pm
Ages: Flexible, generally 9-11
Cost: $200/season. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available
Rolling Registration: Please email info@myvoicemusic.org to inquire about capacity before registering mid-season

 

AMPLIFY: MIDDLE SCHOOL

AMPLIFY: MIDDLE SCHOOL is a year-round mentorship program that meets weekly for students ages 12-14 with, or without, previous musical experience. If your student can play eight or more chords, strum in rhythm with others, or play multiple drum beats consistently, they are a good candidate for AMPLIFY MS. If they are aspiring to do these things but don’t quite yet have all the skills, they should sign up for AMPLIFY JR.


Time: Mondays, 6:30-8:00pm
Ages: Flexible, generally 12-14
Cost: $200/season. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available
Rolling Registration: Please email info@myvoicemusic.org to inquire about capacity before registering mid-season

 

AMPLIFY: HIGH SCHOOL

AMPLIFY: HIGH SCHOOL is a year-round mentorship program that meets weekly for students age 14 – 18. Sessions often include rehearsals for upcoming performances, writing accompaniment parts for a new song written by a fellow student, collaborative jam sessions, and recording.

Time: Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30pm
Ages: Flexible, generally 14-18
Cost: $240/season. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available
Rolling Registration: Please email info@myvoicemusic.org to inquire about capacity before registering mid-season

 

BAND ON DEMAND

Small group in-person classes. If three or more rockers want to form their own band this can be set up at times that MVM’s studio is open. Reach out to register@myvoicemusic.org if you are interested in setting up consistent band time with an experienced instructor. Includes recording time.

Dates: Mutually agreeable. 8 weeks, one class per week
Ages: 9-24
Cost: $200/season. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available

 

HIP HOP LAB

Interested in learning how to make beats, write lyrics, record vocals, practice your stage presence, and more? Check out our Hip-Hop Lab on Fridays. You’ll receive guidance on what it takes to achieve your musical goals while learning from teachers who are active in the local scene. Registration not required in advance to attend.

Time: Fridays, 5:00-6:30pm
Ages: 14-18 (high school)
Cost: $200/season or $25 Drop-in. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available
REGISTER or simply drop-in any Friday!

 

INDIVIDUAL MENTORSHIP SESSIONS

Schedule consistent once-a-week sessions with an experienced instructor to work on your music, songwriting, recording skills, or learn an instrument. In-person or virtual.

Dates: Mutually agreeable. Please reach out to register@myvoicemusic.org before purchasing sessions, so we can make sure there is teacher availability.
Ages: 9-24
Cost: $175 (includes 4 sessions). Pay-what-you-can scholarships available

 

INSTRUMENT Library

We encourage youth to borrow instruments to use at home to supplement their musical journey at MVM. We have a rotating variety of instruments available to borrow including acoustic guitars, ukuleles, electric guitars, keyboards, basses, drums, amps, and recording gear. Please email register@myvoicemusic.org to inquire about borrowing an instrument.
Cost: $40/season. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available

 

LET’S WRITE A SONG TOGETHER

One-on-one in-person or virtual songwriting and recording sessions. Through two 1-hour sessions, or one 2-hour session, youth have the opportunity to collaborate with our community of professional musicians to create an original song.

See here for an album of songs from this program.

Click here to learn more about the program.

Dates: Mutually agreeable
Ages: 9-24
Cost: $80. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available

 

OPEN STUDIO

MVM’s Open Studio program offers middle and high school aged youth the opportunity to explore music at our studio space: Learn an instrument, write and record songs, and collaborate with others. The Open Studio offers a safe space for youth to gather after school. Youth can drop in to the space at any time between 3:00-6:00pm. Registration in advance is not required. Learn more about Open Studio here.

Time: Thursdays, 3:00-6:00pm
Ages: 12-18 (middle school and high school)
Cost: $150 Season / $25 Drop-in. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available
REGISTER or simply drop-in any Thursday!

 

RECORDING SESSIONS

Have songs to record on your own or with a group? Reach out to our studio team at register@myvoicemusic.org.

Dates: By request and appointment
Ages: 9-24
Cost: $40/hour. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available

 

Rock Camps

Rock camps are awesome! Our rockers not only get hands-on experience playing music, forming a band, and performing, they also write their own songs, record them and get their own CD. These weeklong camps are typically for kids ages 9-13. Upcoming camps will be listed below. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available.

 

Satellite Programs

My Voice Music brings all the instruments and instruction needed to run music groups at therapeutic centers, juvenile detention centers, schools, and other youth organizations. We also host programs with Satellite partners at MVM Studios. If you have an idea for a program partner we should talk to, or a question about Satellite Programs drop us a line at info@myvoicemusic.org.

 

TRANSITIONS

Transitions is for young adults ages 18-24 to further explore their artistic development. Participants meet weekly to collaborate, write, record, and explore musical concepts with peers and professional working musicians. Weekly sessions often include rehearsals for upcoming performances, recording, songwriting, and jam sessions. Work on your album on your own, or collaborate with other students and staff! The Transitions Program is what you make it. Registration in advance not required to attend.

Time: Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00pm
Ages: 18-24
Cost: $75 Season / $10 Drop-in. Pay-what-you-can scholarships available.
REGISTER or simply drop-in any Wednesday!

 

CLASSES FAQ

  • Classes at MVM Studios are year-round artist mentorship programs that focus on personal development and musical skills, culminating in the recording and performing of songs written during the term. Students must be willing to collaborate with a diverse group of participants with varying degrees of musical experience – attitude is everything!

  • Rolling registration means that students are welcome to join most weekly programs in the middle of a season, regardless of the seasonal starting and ending dates. We ask students to register each season for administration purposes, but our hope is that students will join us as many weeks of the year as they are able; to build long-term relationships with planned breaks between seasons. Please email info@myvoicemusic.org to inquire about capacity before registering for a program mid-season.

  • MVM Studios artist mentorship programs are year-round classes that meet weekly. Students register each season: spring, summer, fall and winter.

  • Programs take place at MVM Studios at 8911 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97216.

  • Youth ages 9-24, no musical experience required.

  • Classes are led by an experienced and diverse group of teaching artists who are active in the local music scene.

  • Program prices range from $40-$240 per season. With our Play It Forward scholarship program, MVM will not turn any youth away for financial reasons. Visit our Play It Forward page to obtain a scholarship discount code that best fits your circumstances, no questions asked.

  • If your child can play eight or more chords, strum in rhythm with others, or play multiple drum beats consistently, they are a good candidate for AMPLIFY: Middle School. If they are aspiring to do theses things but don’t quite yet have all the skills, they should sign up for Amplify Jr.

  • We cannot guarantee that your student will be able to play with their friends. At each program bands are made with considerations of skill-level, ability, and perspective so that each group can create collaborative music that they are proud of. If you are interested in creating your own band, see our “Band On Demand” option.

  • Maybe! We ask students to register each season for administration purposes, but our hope is that students will join us as many weeks of the year as they are able; to build long-term relationships with planned breaks between seasons. Rolling registration means that students are welcome to join and register for most weekly artist mentorship programs in the middle of a season, regardless of the seasonal starting and ending registration dates. Email info@myvoicemusic.org to inquire about capacity for dropping into a program mid-season.

  • Use a scholarship discount code to find the prorated cost of registration for the season you are dropping into. The following season you will register again, at full price or at whatever level is appropriate for you using a scholarship code. MVM programs are always pay-what-you-can.

  • We ask students to register each season for administration purposes, but we hope they will join us all year. Because we are a nonprofit organization, it is critical for us to be able to track data and registration info for our students in order to secure funding to help make our programs accessible to all students, regardless of income.

  • MVM usually follows Portland Public Schools’ policy regarding inclement weather delays and closures, and health-related closures. If PPS closes schools district-wide, MVM will cancel programs as well.

    Holiday closures vary by holiday and class. See individual class schedules for holiday closures.

  • The safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance. Our mask policy for all programs are consent-based and change with current public health conditions. While at MVM Studios, you may be asked to wear a mask.

  • Classes at MVM are artist mentorship programs that focus on personal development and musical skills, culminating in the recording and performing of songs written during the term. Students must be willing to collaborate with a diverse group of participants with varying degrees of musical experience – attitude is everything!