Swallow Hill Music

At Swallow Hill our favorite sound isn’t just a guitar strumming or a fiddle tuning up. It’s the laughter that sneaks in between the notes. It’s the collective “aha!” when a student nails a chord they thought was impossible. It’s the swell of applause that makes even the shyest performer beam.

Take Michelle. Three years ago, she walked into an open house feeling uncertain but curious. She had been trying to teach herself guitar, but it wasn’t joyful. So she boldly signed up for her first class. Having started her journey as a listener and appreciator of music, she wasn’t sure if she’d be the one person who couldn’t keep up. But by the end of the session, she wasn’t just playing music, she was playing with people. 

She found herself laughing with strangers-turned-friends, strumming in unison, and realizing that music isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection.

Michelle told us, “The experience at Swallow Hill is deeply inclusive. I once heard a quote, ‘there are rooms that you belong in that you don’t even know exist yet.’ I found my room at Swallow Hill. It's one of the only places I’ve seen where everyone goes out of their way to include others. Seeing how they show up for each other and have shown up for me has made me a better person and I take that into all other aspects of my life.”

That’s what music does here every day, thanks to you.

It turns strangers into neighbors. It gives confidence to voices that thought they had none. It creates joy that lingers long after the last note fades.

Michelle went on to share, “Being part of Swallow Hill probably saved my life. Music is not a small thing. It has brought me purpose, joy and belonging. Music is my refuge and sanctuary. It restores my faith in the world, and I want that for others.”

Her words remind us that every gift carries a ripple effect. “I chose to give because I want to make improvements in my world,” Michelle said. “You can start with what is closest and most meaningful to you. For me that was music and Swallow Hill. It makes people better people. I’m a better coworker, housemate and community member because we learn to work together. Not everyone has to be the loudest or the best and somehow it all comes together so beautifully. That’s how I want the whole world to work, if it were up to me.” 

Michelle’s story could be anyone’s story, including yours. The joy of Swallow Hill isn’t confined to a stage or a classroom. It’s the invisible thread that ties us all together. When you make a gift this holiday season, you help weave that thread a little stronger, a little brighter, so that thousands more can find their place in this community of music-makers, music-educators, and music-lovers.

Today, our community needs you. 

Every donation, no matter the size makes a difference in helping us to welcome you, your neighbors, and newcomers to this beautiful community that we have built together.