About us
Notelove is a non-profit that gives free music lessons to youth in California, Massachusetts, and Texas. Our intention is to encourage participation in performing arts, which are often glossed over or underfunded.
It can be expensive and difficult to pursue a musical education. Music teachers will typically charge between $50-150/hr for lessons, and school music programs are costly and can cost up to hundreds of dollars per student annually.
Music education provides an environment for youth to develop necessary worldly skills, including perseverance, a strong work ethic, and cooperation, among many others.
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Schools that offer music programs have higher graduation and attendance rates compared to schools that don’t offer music education. Learning music can also improve reasoning, short-term memory, planning, and the ability to focus.
Notelove was created to both close the gap between low and high income families, as well as to spread the joy of music to all youth. Join and support our cause today!
Achievements:
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President's Volunteer Service Award certified organization
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3,426 hours of lessons volunteered
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70 qualified, talented student musicians from over 20 different high schools
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Completely student run
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Offering lessons for 18 different instruments
Background
Notelove was started in 2018 by Omar Shohoud, former Homestead High School student and current student at the University of Chicago. As a musician himself, Omar wanted to see other youth experience the joy of music as he was able to. Notelove started as a local effort to provide free music lessons to low-income youth in the Bay Area, but has since transformed into an organization that provides services nationwide.
Parent Testimonials
"This has been a wonderful program to support my daughter in her first year learning a new instrument! The tutor is irreplaceable for a novice musician just beginning to learn. The one-on-one time has been crucial to her success!"
-Leah Brunnings
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"Notelove is a great idea! I like it for my daughters because it gives them a way to meet someone a few years older in the music community. It allows them to learn music as well as hear from another person why and how they have pursued their musical instrument."
-Karen Linser
Newsletters
Click on the icon to the right to view our newsletters, which include all our accomplishments for the year!
Jane Park, teaching a student
Omar Shohoud
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