CHARLOTTE AMALIE — So you want to be the next Rashawn Ross.
Ross is a native of St. Thomas who is in the rock n’ roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Dave Matthews Band.
He went to grade school and high school in the U.S. Virgin Islands and then on to the Berklee College of Music in California where he studied the trumpet.
Now Rashawn Ross gets paid to play music for money.
If you have a dream of playing an instrument like Rashawn, the G-Clef Music Academy and Street Level VI want to help make all your musical dreams come true.
Street Level VI (SLVI) has partnered with G-Clef Music Academy to provide music education scholarship opportunities for youth and adult residents of St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Music education scholarships are open to St. Thomas youth (ages three to 17) and adults (ages 30 and up). The following scholarships will be awarded based on each island:
ST. THOMAS
One adult will be rewarded a one-year scholarship of weekly one-hour in-person group PIANO lessons that take place on Thursdays at 1:00 pm. We are also seeking to award one youth (ages three to 17) a one-year scholarship of weekly in-person PRIVATE music lessons in either piano, guitar, drums, steel pan, voice (singing), ukulele or Music Exploration (for ages three to five).
ST. CROIX
Two St. Croix youth (ages 3 to 17) can receive a one-year scholarship of weekly in-person PRIVATE music lessons in either piano, guitar, drums, voice (singing), ukulele or Music Exploration (for ages 3 to 5).
G-Clef Music Academy and Street Level VI are encouraging you to apply for a scholarship to receive free music lessons!! According to Street Level VI Founder Priscilla Lynn “SLVI is a ‘go-to’ source for the Live Music Scene in the USVI.
Musicians and bands are showcased in announcements of upcoming performances, news of accomplishments, and brief video clips on our Facebook Page. In addition, SLVI awards scholarships and distributes donations to island youth music education programs.”
G-Clef Music Academy, the U.S. Virgin Islands’ premier music school, has been teaching students of all ages how to play music for over 10 years.
The academy has been teaching a variety of instruments to beginners and students of various levels. SLVI will review all scholarship applications. Winners will be notified regarding beginning lessons in September 2020.
SLVI Youth and Adult Music Education Scholarships are available at G-Clef’s website and through SLVI’s Facebook page. All awarded applications must be first-time students of G-Clef Music Academy on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Scheduling of music lessons is based on availability.
Academy Director James H. Gumbs, Jr. said, “We are very grateful that SLVI is providing support to G-Clef Music Academy and VI residents to ensure that they receive the benefits of music education,” academy director James Gumbs, Jr. said. “Scientific research has proven that playing a music instrument strengthens brain functions. Music also brings a sense of discipline and builds self-confidence. Learning music as an adult has benefits as well. Research shows that the brain maintains the ability to change, so older adults can learn how to play an instrument even if they never played one before.”
G-Clef is located on St. Thomas in Mandela Circle and on St. Croix in the Sunny Isle Shopping Center.
The application and more information about Street Level VI Youth and Adult G-Clef Music Education Scholarships are available at G-Clef’s website at gclefmusicacademy.com and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gclefmusicacademy as well as on SLVI’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/StreetLevelVI
You can also obtain more information by calling G-Clef Music Academy at (340) 344-6449.