Farayi Malek

When I was a student at the New England Conservatory of Music, our Gospel Ensemble had the honor of performing at an event at Harvard University in celebration of Civil Rights activist and Representative John Lewis. After our performance, Representative Lewis shared a powerful reflection: "Without music, the Civil Rights Movement would have been like a bird without wings." Whenever I question the importance of music—and the significance of access to music education—this moment serves as a poignant reminder of its transformative power.

 

Growing up in rural Caldwell, Idaho, I lacked nearby access to college preparatory education. While I was fortunate to join a performing arts high school that helped me gain admission and scholarships to institutions such as Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, the University of North Texas, and The New School, I still faced significant gaps in my education. Unlike many of my peers, I was unable to test out of first-level courses and ultimately had a steeper learning curve to contend with.

 

I observed that those who tested out of these introductory courses often came from expensive, top-tier preparatory schools in cities like Boston, New York City, and San Francisco, studying with world-class teachers while still in their teens. With access to similar preparation, I could have allocated more college credit hours to electives and advanced classes, allowing for greater freedom and time to explore and develop my artistic voice.

 

The idea for Allegro Virtual Preparatory emerged from my desire to help students like myself—those from rural areas and working-class families—gain the same access to high-level music education as students living in more affluent, urban areas. This goal is aided largely by our virtual format which allows us to connect premier music educators with talented and motivated students, no matter their location. Our goal is to provide an affordable pre-college program that builds strong foundational skills, enabling students to bypass introductory college courses, save valuable credit hours, and dedicate more time to honing their unique artistic identities.

 

Like many incoming freshmen, I took all the foundational ear training, solfège, and remedial theory courses. Although I loved school and enjoyed these classes, the reality of the high cost of music education made it clear how important it is to maximize every moment, credit hour, and lesson.

 

In addition to helping students develop the technical, performance, and professional skills essential for success in their musical and academic pursuits, Allegro Virtual Prep is committed to inspiring each student to be socially conscious and use their music as a positive force in their communities.