Roots & Wings

Bringing Music Where It's Needed Most

MUSIC CHANGES LIVES.

Access to music education can change the course of a life, a neighborhood, and an entire community. Roots & Wings is The Front Porch’s music education program designed to build musicians from the inside out. We partner with organizations committed to serving people in challenging circumstances to offer music classes and experiences throughout the community, free to participants. Roots & Wings focuses on the importance of creating trusting relationships in order to open the creative musical potential of everyone.

See the impact

Experience the joy of our Roots & Wings early-childhood and elementary school programs, which bring no-cost music education to hundreds of preschoolers and elementary students in classrooms that don’t have dedicated music programs.

Current Programs

Where We Go

Outreach Teaching Artists

Lillie Williams, (West African dance)

Lillie is a West African dance instructor with 20 years of experience. She is the director of Charlottesville’s Chihamba Dance Troupe and often hosts community events like the “Exploring African Roots” event.

Theo Herrin, (singer-songwriter, guitar)

Theo is a Charlottesville native who studied music at William and Mary. He returned to Charlottesville in 2020 to start teaching for The Front Porch and pursue a music career.

Erynn McLeod, (singer-songwriter, guitar)

Erynn is a singer-songwriter at the crossroads of folk and Broadway. She has a special talent for working with young children, and is currently writing and recording an original children’s album. Erynn works full time as the Director of Children’s Programming at The Front Porch.

Joseph Nichols, (bass, piano, production)

Joseph is a jazz bass player and music producer with a bachelor’s degree in music from James Madison University. He currently performs, teaches, and freelances in Charlottesville and Harrisonburg, VA and works full-time as the music teacher at Woodbook Elementary School.

Clara George, (hospice musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter)

Clara moved from San Francisco to Charlottesville in 2020. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and has been singing with hospice and memory care patients since 2010.

Debby Norton, (piano, guitar, ukulele, voice)

Debby has a Masters of Education specialized in children aged 3-12. She studied Orff-Schulwerk music education and loves to combine Orff xylophones with beginning music classes for young children.

Chris Matthews, (Singer-songwriter, guitar, bass)

Originally from South Africa, Chris moved to Charlottesville in 2021. He has 15 years of teaching experience in guitar, music theory and songwriting. Chris appreciates the importance of uplifting and connecting the community through music and art.

Craig Green, (Ukulele, Voice)

Raised in Staunton, Craig has been a ‘uketivist’ for over 15 years. With an encouraging and positive style, he creatively unites singers of all ages to join together in music.

Devon Sproule, (singer-songwriter, guitar, ukulele)

Devon grew up at Twin Oaks in Louisa, VA. She is a multi-faceted musician infusing her rock, folk, indie style in everything she creates as she connects with her community.

Bernard Hankins, (piano, guitar, audio production)

Bernard is a philosopher, musician, spoken word poet, and creative catalyst. Bernard was an educator at Albemarle High School (2016-2022) in Charlottesville, VA where he co-taught an audio production class that focused on music creation and podcast production.

Pete Vigour, (banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, dulcimer)

Family music was the focus of his childhood in Central, VA, and has remained his career and hobby ever since. He loves jamming with other musicians and sharing stories, traditions, and songs in our community.

Sydney Boggs, (voice, piano, guitar, ukulele)

A classically trained vocalist, Sydney grew up in North Carolina and loves music from around the world. Creativity, improvisation, and child-led play is at the center of her teaching.

Lucas Rhondeau, (piano, guitar, mandolin)

Lucas’ love of piano began at an early age. He welcomes the chance to play with youth and seniors alike.

Chris Leva, (guitar, audio production)

Chris has been teaching since the mid-90s. He specializes the art of ensemble and cultivating and exploiting one’s individual musical voice, and is excited to share that with groups of seniors.

see what other folks have to say:

Considering I can not hold a tune in a bucket, it has been great for my students to have someone knowledgeable to teach them songs and movements. It helps their fine and gross motor skills in a fun and engaging way. My students LOVE music and dancing. It is a great way for them to learn and have fun.

-Ms. Leathers, Red Hill Bright Stars pre-k teacher

We are so very thankful for The Front Porch working with our threes and four [year olds]. They are very excited for you to come each week. We have seen a great improvement with their self confidence, their behavioral issues, and with children whose second language is English. We are also thankful for the bond and relationship and partnership that we have grown with The Front Porch, and we are so excited to have you back!

– Jasmyne Johnson (Senior Director of the YMCA Early Learning Center)

We love all that you’re doing for the community and our student in afterschool! The winter concert is always one of our favorite events of the year and you’ve helped push our son out of his shell and overcoming nerves performing for a large crowd. We’re impressed every time and his love of music continues to grow!

– Hometown Choir Parent

When Ms. Debbie walks into the class, it truly lights up. The kids love singing and learning together with her. She helps them take deep breaths when they’re feeling overwhelmed, using her special drum. They learn to count, rhyme, and so much more. I can’t fully express how grateful I am to have the Front Porch come and teach our class. Without them, my students wouldn’t have music class, and that would be heartbreaking for young learners who thrive on music and movement.

– Ms. Wojcik, Stone Robinson Bright Stars pre-k teacher

The Front Porch offers our senior members much more than song; they offer a conduit for those living with dementia or brain changes to connect with their past and present in powerful ways through songs and interactive activities. The Front Porch staff
and volunteers are devoted and focused on creating community from music, and it is our honor to collaborate with them.

– Tish Blackwell, Jefferson Area Board for Aging