HOUSTON — High school students with a knack for medicine are paying it forward through music. Music as Medicine is an organization run by teens who use their love or orchestra to help other teens make sweet music.
“That exposure can really help in the future because you remember what you’ve been taught,” said Lanier Middle School student Gregory Zacharia.
The orchestra students at Lanier Middle School are preparing for an upcoming performance with help from Music as Medicine.
Houston-area high schoolers share their love of string instruments, many of whom were once orchestra students at this school, as well.
Aleta Cole is their grateful music teacher.
“I’m impressed by everything they’ve been doing,” she said. “They're really active, setting up the concert, coming in and helping out, so they are doing a lot.”
Mary Shim said members of the non-profit also give free private lessons to many kids.
“I grew up seeing so many my friends unable to pursue their passions because of financial issues, and that should never be something that hinders someone,” she said.
During this lesson, it was her tutee, who had a few notes.
“I feel like she’s a really great teacher,” said Pin Oak Middle School student Annabelle Chung. “She’s very nice. She doesn’t get mad easily. Well, it’s ok to get mad sometimes, but very patient, very patient.”
That’s music to Shim’s ears. She co-founded Music as Medicine four years ago during her freshman year at DeBakey High School for Health Professions. That's where the "medicine" part comes in. Members of this musical ensemble are all interested in pursuing careers in medicine, combining their two passions to help the community.
In addition to performing at local hospitals and nursing homes, the organization also raises money to help give local kids the gift of music.
“It’s so difficult purchasing instruments,” Shim said. “Beginner instruments start at $400, $500 for the entire outfit and sometimes it’s really hard to get that, especially if the school is lacking it. So we wanted to give the schools enough supplies for them to be able to freely take it home and see if they really enjoy this musical instrument.”
Using their trained ears to correct sour notes and create sweet melodies and memories.