Bring Music to Your Community
Volunteer Musicians clubs are student-led groups that organize outreach performances in their communities.
Students work together to bring live music to places where it is deeply appreciated, including nursing homes, hospitals, and community spaces.
Leadership Through Service
Starting a school club is often the first step in a larger leadership journey. Students who organize outreach concerts and inspire others to serve through music often grow into leadership roles within the Volunteer Musicians community.
Lead a School Club
Students bring musicians together, organize outreach concerts, and build a community of service through music at their school.
Take on Student Leadership
Clubs often develop leadership teams that help coordinate events, outreach planning, and community partnerships.
Represent Your State
Exceptional student leaders may apply for the National Leadership Fellowship and serve as VMA State Senators, helping inspire outreach across the country.
How to Start a VMA Club
You don't need to wait for your school to create a club. If you are a VMA Junior Program member, you can take the initiative and start one yourself.
Join VMA
VMA Junior Program membership is free for students in Grades 1–12.
To become eligible to found a club, you must meet the $50 founding contribution through either student fundraising or a $50 donation when submitting your initial Junior Program recruitment application.
Take your time assembling a team. You can begin with just yourself and invite other students to join as your club develops.
Found Your Club
Any VMA Junior Program member may found a VMA Student Club by completing the Start a Club form.
Your school does not need to formally sponsor, approve, or support the club for you to get started.
You may begin on your own and build your team over time. As the founder, you begin as an Officer Candidate.
Start a ClubOrganize Your First Outreach Concert
Bring your club together for a meaningful outreach performance in your community.
After completing your first outreach concert, you may officially assume the role of President, Treasurer, or Secretary.
Your first concert is the beginning of your club's service journey.
Become a Club Officer
The student who founds the club begins as an Officer Candidate. After completing the club's first outreach concert, the founder may officially assume the role of President, Treasurer, or Secretary.
Other students may join the club and take on leadership roles as the club develops.
A club does not need to begin with a full leadership team. Starting alone is okay.
Build Your Fundraising Team
VMA Clubs are encouraged to create a fundraising team with a student Team Leader.
Each team member can create an individual peer-to-peer fundraising page through VMA's Sweet Sounds of Service campaign. This allows students to reach their own families, friends, teachers, neighbors, and community connections.
Together, individual efforts can become a collective club effort. Fundraising should always be ethical: invite people into the mission, be honest about the purpose, and never pressure someone to give.
The annual recommended minimum fundraising goal is $250 per individual student or $1,000 per club through the Sweet Sounds of Service campaign.
VMA also offers Team Bronze, Team Silver, and Team Gold recognition at fundraising levels of $250, $1,250, and $2,500.
Want to Learn More About Fundraising?
Learn how VMA students can fundraise ethically, build a diverse community of supporters, practice stewardship, and work toward National Service Award recognition.
Learn About FundraisingKeep Your Club Active
Once your club is established, keeping it active is simple. Each academic year, your club should:
- Complete at least one outreach concert.
- Meet the $25 annual club renewal contribution through the club's Sweet Sounds of Service fundraising campaign.
- Submit outreach documentation and keep VMA updated about your club's activities and leadership.
The $25 annual renewal contribution helps sustain the VMA Foundation and the programs, resources, and opportunities available to Junior Program members.
No Need to Start Over
An established VMA Student Club does not need to submit a new Start a Club form every year.
If your school advisor leaves, your school stops sponsoring the club, or circumstances change, your club does not have to end. An established club can continue under student leadership.
The original club remains established as long as it continues to meet the annual activity and renewal requirements.
Serve. Renew. Continue the legacy.
Start a VMA Club
Complete the short application below to begin organizing outreach performances and student leadership opportunities at your school. This application takes about 2 minutes to complete.
Students interested in starting a club may begin the process through the form below, and once the required steps are completed, VMA will process your starting club role as President and activate your club. As your club grows and you seek to continue serving or pursue leadership at a higher student government level, additional opportunities may be earned through the election process. Let's get the ball rolling.
A Growing Network of Student Musicians
Students across the United States are organizing Volunteer Musicians clubs and outreach performances in their communities. Each club brings together young musicians who believe music can make a difference.
Community Outreach
Students organize performances at nursing homes, hospitals, and community centers where live music can bring joy and connection.
Student-Led Clubs
Volunteer Musicians clubs are led by students who recruit fellow musicians, plan concerts, and build service opportunities through music.
Inspiring Service
Each new club inspires more young musicians to use their talents to serve their communities through meaningful outreach performances.