Swallow Hill Music: Making Music at Any Age

On a typical day at Swallow Hill Music you might find a musician so young he has to sit on the floor to play a tiny piano or an adult picking up a guitar for the first time. Swallow Hill Music instructors might be teaching ukulele and guitar in underserved schools around the metro area or leading a singalong at The Children’s Museum.

In the last decade Swallow Hill Music has doubled the size of its music school, reaching thousands of students a year at its South Denver home and satellite locations. The music school is reaching more students through expanded outreach programming which includes visits to more than 50 K – 12 schools every year.

“Swallow Hill Music is a model of accessible and affordable music schools and performance venues,” said Deidre Hamilton, director of development for the nonprofit. “In our music school, whether you’ve ever picked up a guitar or not, you learn a song by the end of your first class. At any age you can be a musician.”

CEO Paul Lhevine explained that the endowment fund with Community First Foundation ensures overall financial stability as they to grow their concerts, classes, outreach programming and community-building efforts well into the future.