Music Centers

Learn more about Play On Philly’s school-based Music Centers.

​Students at our Music Centers of St. Francis de Sales School, Impact Charter School West, Roman Catholic High School, and KenCrest Early Learning Center receive rigorous weekly music instruction before and after school. POP students perform in over 25 concerts throughout the year, including annual winter and spring concerts and unique community events where students share their accomplishments with new audiences across the Greater Philadelphia region.

K-8th grade students at our St. Francis de Sales School and Impact Charter School West programs receive intensive music instruction both before and after school (site dependent) for a total of 8 hours a week through studio and ensemble classes.

As POP students enter grades 7-12 and progress in their musicianship, they learn more challenging repertoire in our Chamber Program at our Music Center at The Howard Center for the Arts, which is part of Roman Catholic High School.

POP also holds a full-day summer program at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music that is open to all young musicians from across Philadelphia.

The primary evaluation tools for student progression are the juries held twice each school year. We focus on the core learning goals for each experience level, allowing for the evaluation of instrumental technique, knowledge of theory, and their preparation of the chosen evaluation piece. Jury results are shared with the Teaching Artists, Program Team, parents or caretakers, and students. Jury scores are accompanied by a citizenship report, which paints a picture of how the student is developing as a whole person, not just a musician.