Newport Festivals Foundation has announced a new initiative to provide free private music lessons for Aquidneck Island students. 

The initiative, a partnership between Newport Festivals Foundation and The Gruben Charitable Foundation, will allow students to apply to receive ten, half-hour-long lessons at the Newport Music Shop, located on Bellevue Ave. Students can rent a free instrument for the duration of their lessons.

“Our festivals are known around the world, so we feel a real responsibility to make sure every student in our backyard of Aquidneck Island has access to high-quality music instruction,” said Dan Swain, Director of Programs for Newport Festivals Foundation. “When the Gruben Charitable Foundation approached us with this idea to provide free music lessons, we were thrilled. It’s such a simple, yet effective solution: give kids free private lessons and an instrument. It’s the best way to improve their confidence as a musician, which will make them more likely to pursue music for years to come.”

Students (ages 9-18) can click here to sign up for lessons and rent a free instrument. Lessons will be offered in Piano, Guitar, Bass and Bass Guitar, Drums, Percussion, Ukulele, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello.

Completion of the form does not guarantee lessons. Applicants will be added to a waitlist. Once a spot opens up, Newport Festivals Foundation will email a code to receive free lessons at the Newport Music Shop located at 142 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI.  

Starting in the spring of 2024, Newport Festivals Foundation will bring our free music lessons into the Rhode Island Incarceration System. Inmates will have the opportunity to learn guitar, piano and songwriting.  

Additional funding for this initiative was also provided by the Bazarsky Family Foundation. 

If you have any questions, please email info@newportfestivals.org