AIM Residency 2024: Where Teachers Learn to Change Lives Through Music

Socially engaged music programs around the world have demonstrated that music can be more than just a school subject. Music can be a catalyst for self-confidence, social interaction and responsibility, and finally the belief that a different future is possible. For young people growing up in challenging circumstances, these programs can create profound impact and become a life-changing experience.

To operate successfully and achieve their goals, music programs need more than a clear strategy and professional management; they need teachers who understand that their role extends beyond teaching an instrument. The Academy for Impact through Music (AIM) was created specifically to address this challenge. AIM recognized that the quality of teaching is the crucial factor for sustainable success, both in musical and social development.

As an innovation lab for changemakers, AIM focuses on three interconnected goals for young people: helping them develop their artistic expression, empowering them to make informed decisions about their lives, and supporting them to become co-creators of stronger communities. To achieve this, AIM provides rigorous training and ongoing support to the teachers and program leaders who are the vital change agents in this work.

In summer 2024, AIM's annual Firebird Fellowship Residency brought that mission to life in Lisbon, Portugal. This two-week learning experience brought together teaching fellows from more than ten countries, young musicians, alumni mentors, program leaders, and members of Lisbon's Quinta do Mocho community. Through a unique combination of teaching and performing, guided by the principle of "learning through teaching," participants deepened their practice while building a global network of support.

This video captures the voices of the participants themselves—teachers sharing their perspectives on AIM's approach, reflecting on their residency experience, and discussing how this work transforms both their own practice and the young people they serve in communities around the world.