How to Change the World with Music

Welcome to Scrollworks, a music program in Birmingham for children who otherwise wouldn't have access!

At the premier of his 9th symphony in 1824, Beethoven was on stage for the first time in twelve years. The audience was packed. But the orchestra and singers were instructed to ignore the beloved composer's direction because he was, by this point, profoundly deaf. During the performance, Beethoven beat the time and turned the pages for an orchestra he could not hear.

Here in Birmingham, children have a different problem. Many of them cannot play Mr. Beethoven's music because they do not have access to instruments and lessons. Scrollworks is changing that, teaching violin, trumpet, piano and more to 180 children every weekend.
 

The fourth movement of Beethoven's 9th, his musical representation of universal brotherhood, includes the beautiful 'Ode to Joy'. In this video, our youth orchestra demonstrates brotherhood through music in a way that makes the grim images of Birmingham's past vanish like smoke in a sunny sky.     

MYOCA and Scrollworks are more than just the typical youth orchestra and music school. We're a movement. On Saturdays at Highlands United Methodist Church on Birmingham's Southside, you can feel the electricity pumping through the building with music coming at you from everywhere. Some hours we are using literally every square inch that the church has generously offered us.

As you undoubtedly are aware, Birmingham and Alabama do not have a positive image in the world. We're out to change that--and our community--with music.

We want people to think of this when someone mentions 'Birmingham': 

Instead of this.

We want our orchestra to fully reflect the demographics of central Alabama. With the state of music education in Alabama, it won't happen unless we train our own musicians.

This organization is inspired and modeled on El Sistema, Venezuela's amazing music program that produced the orchestra in the video. (If you aren't familiar with it, check out the information on this page.)

Browse around this website to learn more. Watch some of our videos. 

Your donation can help Scrollworks use music education to change children's lives, change their family, change Birmingham, Alabama--and then the world!  We are very grateful for donations of money, instruments, and your time.

$100 sponsors music lessons and orchestra through our Scrollworks program for a child for a 12 session term. Students pay a $25 registration fee (to secure parental commitment). We will loan an instrument if one is available and provide all music books and sheet music. 

The Metropolitan Youth Orchestras of Central Alabama is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Your donations are tax deductible. (We will provide you with a receipt for tax purposes!)

You may send a check to MYOCA/Scrollworks, PO Box 811, Birmingham, Alabama 35201 or use a credit card or PayPal by clicking this button.

Would you like to donate an instrument or sheet music/music books? (See our wish list below.)
We will put them into the hands of a young musician in need. Email or call 205-908-8843 to make arrangements.

If you would like to donate time and skills, please email Ms. Goforth or call 205-908-8843.

THANK YOU!

Scrollworks Wish List:

Instruments

            Violin, Viola, Cello (1/4, ½, ¾, full sizes)

            String Bass (¼ , ½, 3/4 sizes)

            Clarinet, Flute

            Bassoon, Oboe

            French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba

            Concert Snares and Stands, Concert Bass Drum, Timpani

            Xylophone, Glockenspiel

            Guitar

            Reeds, Strings, Rosin

            Recorders, Rhythm Sticks, Blocks

Digital Video Camera

Batteries (AA, AAA)

Sheet Music and Method Books

Music Stands (including folding)

Pianos: Many of our piano students cannot afford a real piano at home. If you would like to donate your piano, we will have our volunteer piano tuner evaluate it to make sure it doesn't need repairs our families can't afford. Then we will contact the next family on our waiting list to arrange moving the piano from your home to theirs.

Let's stay in touch! Please take a moment to go to the top of this page and 'like' Scrollworks on Facebook and join our newsletter mailing list. Thank you!!

These videos will tell you more about what Scrollworks is and why these children deserve your support than any words we can put on a page. Please watch!

Click here to hear our story on NPR's Weekend Edition.