Frequently Asked Questions

The VMA Foundation Junior Program is open to students in Grades 1–12.

Studying privately with a music educator is required for students pursuing VMA National Service Awards through the Leadership Initiative. For students participating in the Junior Program who are not pursuing a National Service Award, private study is highly preferred because it provides ongoing musical instruction and support.

Junior Program students participate in community outreach through music while developing musical skills, service, and leadership.

Private music study is required for students pursuing VMA National Service Awards through the Leadership Initiative.

Private study is also highly preferred for Junior Program students because it provides an ongoing relationship with a music educator who can support the student's musical development.

Auditions are not required.

The Leadership Initiative is a recognition program within the VMA Foundation Junior Program for students who want to develop leadership through music and earn national service recognition.

Students complete community outreach concerts and, depending on their level, may participate in virtual workshops while working toward a VMA National Service Award.

Leadership Initiative students are required to complete at least two outreach concerts during each academic year, from September through August.

Private teachers verify concerts through the Concert Completion Report.

For students pursuing VMA National Service Awards through the Leadership Initiative, the private music teacher helps verify the student's ongoing musical study, annual practice, and outreach participation.

Leadership Initiative students must complete at least two outreach concerts during each academic year, from September through August.

After each concert, the student's private teacher submits a Concert Completion Report. Multiple students who participated in the same concert may be included on one report, but two separate reports must be submitted for the two required concerts.

The Concert Completion Report takes less than five minutes to complete. Teachers are not required to attend concerts, however, they, or the student(s), must upload documentation of the event. See Resource Library.

Students who complete the Leadership Initiative earn VMA National Service Awards, recognizing sustained outreach engagement, leadership development, and stewardship through music.

To earn an award, students fulfill the requirements of their selected level, which may include:

• Completing outreach concerts
• Participating in leadership workshops at the Silver and Gold levels
• Fulfilling annual stewardship commitments

Awards are offered at three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold National Service Awards.

The VMA National Service Awards recognize students who complete the requirements of the Leadership Initiative through a combination of service, stewardship, and leadership.

Service includes completing outreach concerts. Stewardship includes fulfilling annual fundraising commitments, and leadership includes participation in leadership workshops at the Silver and Gold levels.

When a student completes all of the requirements for their Leadership Initiative level, the corresponding number of service hours is awarded toward their VMA National Service Award:

Elementary School (Grades 1–5): Gold — 75 hours

Middle School (Grades 6–8): Gold — 100 hours

High School (Grades 9–12): Bronze — 100 hours; Silver — 175 hours; Gold — 250 hours

These hours represent the total service-hour recognition awarded for completing the Leadership Initiative requirements. Students do not need to complete 75, 100, 175, or 250 hours of concerts alone. The award reflects the student's combined completion of service, stewardship, and leadership requirements.

Students pursuing VMA National Service Awards must remain engaged in ongoing private musical study and practice with their music educator.

The student's private teacher verifies the student's annual practicing and submits the required Concert Completion Reports documenting outreach concert participation.

An outreach concert is a musical performance presented for a community audience as a service activity through the VMA Foundation.

Performances may take place at appropriate community venues such as senior living communities, shelters, hospitals, schools, community centers, and other organizations that welcome student musicians.

No. The VMA Foundation is classically rooted, but outreach performances may include a diverse range of musical genres and styles when appropriate for the audience and venue.

Students should incorporate some classical music into their outreach programming as part of VMA's musical foundation.

Yes. Multiple VMA students may participate in the same outreach concert.

Students who participate in the same concert may be included on a single Concert Completion Report.

However, Leadership Initiative students must still complete two separate outreach concerts during the academic year, and two separate reports must be submitted to document those concerts.

Leadership Initiative workshops are virtual, discussion-based sessions for high school students focused on developing leadership, service, and stewardship through music.

Workshops meet once a month and are free to attend. Students can register for upcoming workshops through the VMA Foundation Event Calendar. Workshops do not include homework or examinations.

Workshops are also a great way for students to step into student government roles and become more involved in shaping the VMA Foundation. The national student government brings together students from different states who are working to live the VMA mission, serve their communities, and help make the program better for everyone.

No. Official VMA School Clubs are our preferred model because they provide an opportunity for the VMA legacy to continue from one group of students to the next. However, an official VMA School Club or school advisor is not required for a student to participate in outreach.

Any VMA Junior Program member may found a club by completing the Start a Club form. The founder must meet the $50 eligibility requirement through student fundraising or by making a $50 donation when submitting their initial Junior Program recruitment application.

Club founders begin as Officer Candidates. After the club completes its first outreach concert, the founder may officially assume a club officer position as President, Treasurer, or Secretary.

Your VMA Club does not have to end. If a school advisor leaves unexpectedly, or if a school-based VMA Club lapses or stops operating, the student leadership of the club can continue.

If you are already the founder or an officer of a VMA Club, you do not need to submit a new Start a Club form. The club was already established when it was founded.

Students can continue organizing outreach and serving their communities through the existing VMA Club, even if the school is no longer actively sponsoring or advising it.

Official VMA School Clubs are preferred because they have a strong opportunity to continue the VMA legacy from one group of students to the next. However, the loss of a school advisor or a lapse in school support does not prevent an established VMA Club from continuing its service.

Any VMA Junior Program member may found a VMA student club by completing the Start a Club form.

To get started, the founder must meet the $50 eligibility requirement through student fundraising (Sweet Sounds of Service online Give Lively campaign) or by making a $50 donation when submitting their initial Junior Program recruitment application.

The founder begins as an Officer Candidate. After the club completes its first outreach concert, the founder may officially assume a club officer position as President, Treasurer, or Secretary.

To remain active, an established VMA Club should:

• Complete at least one outreach concert during each academic year.
• Meet the $25 annual club renewal contribution through the club's Sweet Sounds of Service fundraising campaign.
• Submit the appropriate outreach documentation and keep VMA updated on the club's activities.

The $25 renewal contribution helps sustain the VMA Foundation and the programs, resources, and opportunities provided to Junior Program members.

Established clubs do not need to submit a new Start a Club form each year. The original club continues under its student leadership, even if a school advisor changes or the school's level of involvement changes.

VMA clubs should operate through schools or other appropriate neutral public or community locations.

Clubs should not meet, rehearse, or conduct official activities in private homes.

School-based clubs should follow all applicable school policies and procedures.

Yes. VMA encourages students to establish clubs through their school's existing club system in addition to registering the club with VMA.

This allows the club to recruit new members and continue serving the community as future students take on leadership roles.

No. A school-based VMA club and private music study serve different purposes.

Students pursuing VMA National Service Awards must continue studying privately with a music educator who can verify their ongoing musical practice and submit Concert Completion Reports.

Students who establish and lead a VMA Student Club may receive Club Founder Recognition for expanding opportunities for outreach and service through music in their communities.

Club founders may also work toward additional VMA recognition through student leadership, outreach service, and the VMA National Service Awards. Recognition opportunities include:

• Club Founder Recognition — for establishing a new VMA club
• Outreach Service Recognition — for completing 1 outreach concert
• Community Service Recognition — for completing 5 outreach concerts
• Distinguished Outreach Service — for completing 10 outreach concerts
• VMA Distinguished Leadership Certificate — for qualifying student leadership service
• VMA National Service Awards — Bronze, Silver, and Gold through the Leadership Initiative
• Distinguished Ambassador — for sustained leadership and outreach service
• Distinguished Legacy Leader — for several years of meaningful leadership and outreach service

These recognitions give students opportunities to build a record of leadership, service, stewardship, and community engagement through music as they progress through their VMA journey.

As a private teacher or studio owner, you retain full control of your teaching practice, studio, students, and community outreach. VMA does not direct or supervise your teaching or outreach activities.

Your primary role as a Circle Educator is to validate the practice and outreach participation of your own VMA students. You may also facilitate outreach opportunities for other students and families, but you do not assume responsibility for supervising children who are not your own.

Educators may facilitate VMA outreach, but may not directly supervise or oversee another family's children during rehearsals, performances, or related activities. Practice-hour validation belongs to each student's own educator.

Yes. Private music teachers may support students musically and may submit Concert Completion Reports for their students.

However, private studio teachers should not host official VMA clubs in private homes or studios or supervise groups of students outside appropriate school or community settings.

VMA activities should take place in schools or other appropriate public or community settings rather than private homes.

Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising their own children and arranging transportation to and from activities.

School-based activities must also follow the school's policies and procedures.

VMA provides a General Incident Report Form for reporting incidents, concerns, or situations that may require the Foundation's attention. The form is available in the VMA Resource Library and can be used by members, families, and educators to document what occurred and provide relevant details.

When appropriate, incidents should also be reported to the school, venue, or other responsible organization according to its policies and procedures.

Start by joining the VMA Foundation Junior Program. From there, students can participate in outreach concerts, start or join a VMA Student Club, take part in leadership opportunities, and work toward VMA recognition and National Service Awards.