As our programs expanded, so did the need for additional instructors. More importantly, instructors who reflect the lived experiences of our students while also providing quality, impactful lessons. Thanks to a generous $40,000 grant from The Seybert Foundation, we were able to fund our pilot Instructor Training Program and lay the groundwork. This free, paid learning opportunity was open to alumni of Rock to the Future who were interested in becoming music educators and youth development professionals. They gained hands-on experience, received in-depth training, and ultimately expanded access to free music education opportunities for hundreds of Philadelphia youth. The program also sought to cultivate a more diverse pipeline of teaching artists by increasing representation of groups that have historically been underrepresented in this field.
Check out our interviews with a few Rock to the Future alumni who completed our Instructor Training Program last June 2025. Nehemiah and Keven are former students who completed the program and are currently on our team, paying it forward to the next generation. We seek to provide more opportunities like this for our alumni and bring the experience full circle for Philadelphia youth.
Nehemiah
How did you get involved with Rock to the Future? I was a once a student in the MusiCore program starting in mid 2020 for about 2 years.
How has the organization impacted your life? The organization impacted my life by opening me up to music performance and professional career development.
What was it like to go through the instructor training program and to now be an instructor with the organization? It was a great experience, going through the instructor training program. It taught me a lot about how the instructors that I looked up to structured their lessons and made it fun for myself and all the other students within the program. Now, being an instructor allows me to give what my previous instructors had given me.
What's the most fulfilling part of working at Rock to the Future? The most fulfilling part of working at Rock to the Future is having the ability to put a smile on a young person‘s face.
Keven
How did you get involved with Rock to the Future? I was a student in the MusiCore program for 1 year then I started working here since 2022.
How has the organization impacted your life? It molded me both in a professional aspect and emotionally. It helped me mature, the difference between me then in the program and now working here, I’m a completely different person. It helped me develop good habits and healthy goals
What was it like to go through the instructor training program and to now be a part of the staff? I always been excited and confident enough to say I knew I’d be a good instructor, I was a student and that prepared me a lot. I’m basically the bridge of alumni to staff!
What's the most fulfilling part of working at Rock to the Future? It’s full circle. I got to work while my brother was in the program and I get to serve the same students that had a similar upbringing.
It’s just a great and genuine program.