💡 What Makes Play It Forward Unique
- Open and Inclusive for All Skill Levels
– Anyone — from a high school saxophonist to a retired pianist — can take part.
– No auditions, certifications, or fees required to start.
– Encourages amateur musicianship as service, not as performance perfection. - Education + Empowerment Model
– Most organizations book performances. Play It Forward teaches people to create their own.
– Offers free/low-cost online training, outreach templates, song guides, and communication scripts. - Dual Focus: Individuals and Teachers
– Unique emphasis on music teachers and ensembles — giving them tools to lead student trips into nursing homes.
– Creates intergenerational benefits: young performers learn empathy and confidence while brightening others’ days. - Volunteerism and Joy, Not Professionalism or Therapy
– Accessible without needing therapy credentials or a polished stage act.
– Keeps the barrier low — just heart, music, and a willingness to share. - Scalable, Network-Based Approach
– Encourages a global or national movement through local chapters, school clubs, and partner groups.
– Easy to replicate anywhere: rural towns, suburbs, cities. - Community Recognition System
– “Play It Forward Certified Musician” and “Community Music Partner” badges give a sense of belonging and pride.
– Simple recognition replaces the need for formal credentials. - Low Cost, High Heart
– Unlike therapeutic or booking programs, this can sustain itself through modest memberships, small grants, and grassroots donations.
– Perfectly aligns with community arts and aging grants that look for scalable, volunteer-driven programs.
Play it Forward is Unique
Wansink, Brian (1992). Listen to the Music- Its Impact on Affect, Perceived Time Passage, and Applause, Advances in Consumer Research , Vol. 19, pp. 715–718.
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