Volunteer Opportunities for Musicians

Ok, enough talk about making money as a musician – let’s talk about not making money with your music.

My grandfather played organ, accordion and clarinet for most of his life. From the time he retired until just a few years before he passed away, he played organ every week at the local nursing home. I believe it was every Thursday afternoon for an hour. He never talked much about it, but the people that knew him did. To this day I have people back home telling me stories about my Grandfather’s playing. He gave a gift to his community that people still appreciate.

Music is a powerful thing, and there’s plenty of reasons to gift your music to people that need it. Music brightens dark times, heals the soul and brings hope. The truth is that while we all need to get gigs to pay the bills, sometimes its the music we don’t get paid for that ends up feeling the best.

There are lots of opportunities for musicians to volunteer in their communities. Consider volunteering for your local chapter of the Salvation Army, who sometimes send out brass bands or soloists instead of bell-ringers on their donation drives at Christmas. Consider playing for an afternoon at a local rest home, as my Grandfather did. Hospitals are places often in need of hope and healing – call your local hospital and tell them that you are interested in playing for their patients.

Consider this organization – Musicians on Call, a non-profit organization that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. They have branches in New York City, Philadelphia and Nashville. Here’s their informational video:

Also visit the website of Hospital Audiences, Inc., another New York City organization that “provides cultural access through music, dance, theatre and the visual arts, reaching out to the frail elderly, mentally and physically disabled, seriously ill children at health and social service facilities, and youth in grades K – 12.”

Another opportunity for musicians to volunteer is galas, performances and events. Many non-profits throw lavish parties to attract big-money donors to their cause. Some organizations put together talents shows or other performances. You probably won’t be able to track down opportunities like this (they will more likely track you down!), but when they call, consider saying yes to the gig if you believe in the cause.

Also – if you do decide to donate your time to volunteering, read Doug Ross’ well-written article on researching the organizations you are interested in. As he puts it, “it is wise to actively choose your charities, rather than passively let them choose you.”

You might find that playing music for those that need it most is an opportunity not just for the audience – but also for you.