Music Program
At Growth Notes, we believe music is more than sound—it’s a spark for confidence, creativity, and connection. Our Music Program brings the joy of rhythm, melody, and self-expression to children who might not otherwise have the chance to explore it.
​
Through free workshops, performances, and mentorship, we create a space where every child can find their voice, make some noise, and have fun doing it.
Would this project help your community?
Program Spotlight
Songwriting Camp 🎵
June 17-18, 2026 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. @ Hijas Del Campo
What Happened
​
We showed up in Brentwood with a keyboard, a ukulele, and a plan.
The plan lasted about ten minutes.
​
We thought we’d be working with kids ages 9–13. Instead, they were 6 to 11. Our youngest, Kai, was about to start first grade, and our oldest was heading into middle school. A big, all-together songwriting project wasn’t going to work with that mix, so we scrapped the plan and made a new one on the fly.​
New plan: pick a song you already know, keep the melody, and write your own lyrics about anything you want.
​
Victoria chose Bohemian Rhapsody and turned it into a song about a chimpanzee in a zoo. She’s six.
Camilla picked Prom Queen and wrote about a flower she wished she could take home.
​
One kid stayed in the corner for the first twenty minutes, too nervous to join. By the end of the first day, he had written a song about soccer and performed it in front of everyone.
​​The Part We Didn’t Expect
​
The staff at Hijas del Campo told us something we didn’t really expect: a lot of these kids don’t usually talk much, especially around new people. Their parents had said the same thing.
​
But during camp, it was a different world. They were running around, singing, laughing, and arguing (politely) over what song to use for the group music video (Bohemian Rhapsody won, obviously). They played Just Dance during breaks. On day two, someone declared it “squishy day,” and suddenly everyone had squishies in their hands or pockets.
​
At one point, a staff member came over just to watch. She told us she’d just gotten a text from Kai’s mom. It said: “Kai is talking.”​ That really stayed with us.
What We Learned​
​
We didn’t teach music theory or hand out worksheets. We just asked what they cared about and gave them a way to express it that didn’t feel intimidating or “school-like.”
​
That ended up mattering more than anything else.
​
The music wasn’t really the main point. It was the doorway. It gave them a way to open up, be heard, and connect with each other.
What’s Next
We also donated a keyboard and a ukulele so the kids can keep playing even after camp ended.
​
The kids asked us to come back, and Dorina, who runs Hijas del Campo, did too, so we’re planning to return later this summer.
​
Next time, we’re probably going to try something more sports-focused. The boys made it pretty clear that straight-up songwriting isn’t their favorite thing, which is fair. We’ll meet them where they are.
​
If you want to run something like this, we’re happy to share what we did and help you set it up.
​
Volunteers: Katherine R., Anna K., Michelle
Partner: Hijas del Campo, Brentwood, CA
Kids served: 5
Songs written: 5
Chimpanzees referenced: 1
Times Bohemian Rhapsody was played: too many to count
Meet the Team
Workshop Curriculum
