Our Programs

PUBLIC CONCERTS

At the heart of our work is a public concert series that takes place at the Mystic Activity Center, a community center in Somerville’s largest public housing facility. Toward the goal of offering our all-ages audiences multiple entry points into the ever-expanding, expressive realm of classical music, we have developed an artistic approach for our concert programming which interweaves chamber music for piano, strings, winds and voice with a variety of art forms, including dance, puppetry, theater, storytelling, visual art, video, poetry, as well as other musical styles (for instance: jazz, pop, and folk traditions). 

Hubbub is a unique and energizing ingredient at our concerts. While we play for you, we want you to feel free to come and go as you please, vocalize, enjoy refreshments, and engage in active modes of listening, using the materials and space we have provided for drawing, moving, and writing to the music. 

Watch our calendar for upcoming concerts!

ALL-AGES PIANO & VIOLIN CLASSES

Do you want to learn to play the piano or violin? Do you already play, but wish you had a fun group to play with every week? Are you between the ages of 10-110? We have the class for you! Our goals are to develop our technical, expressive musical powers on our instruments, to make harmonious music together, and to support each other’s musical goals and dreams.

FALL 2023 SCHEDULE:

VIOLIN CLASS 6:00–7:30pm, Tuesdays

PIANO CLASS 5:00–6:30pm, Fridays

All classes meet at the Mystic Activity Center, 530 Mystic Ave. Somerville, MA 02145. 

Due to space and equipment constraints, enrollment is limited.

If you are interested in joining one of these classes, contact us!

SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS

We are welcoming local classrooms all over town to come to the Mystic Activity Center during the school day to experience interactive, educational performances presented by Around Hear]co-directors and guest artists. We look forward to sharing our adventurous musical programs with many more Somerville schoolchildren, and expanding community interest in our free public concert series, group music classes, and workshops. 

By providing these fun, educational musical experiences at the Mystic, we hope to foster among our city’s youth a sense of belonging and pride in our city’s vibrant public housing neighborhoods, as well as an awareness of and appreciation for the individuals and organizations who call the Somerville Housing Authority home.

Learn more about this opportunity here!

MUSIC FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

We have been enjoying making musical connections at Brady Towers and Properzi Manor, two of the Somerville Housing Authority’s residences for seniors and people with disabilities. This year we are visiting both facilities for regular musical get-togethers, during which we commune with residents through informal performances, jam sessions, sing-alongs, and conversation. In addition, we will bring these communities a full season of chamber music concerts, featuring guest artists and putting to use the grand pianos we have installed in both buildings.

MUSIC FOR MYSTIC YOUTH

The Mystic Learning Center is an after-school program that serves local low-income families. During the school year, we offer regular introductory music classes to this organization’s 5-7-year-olds. In these classes, we explore a variety of music with our bodies, voices, instruments, and found objects, and create soundscapes, songs, and stories together out of our most interesting discoveries. These classes culminate in special, informal performances for Mystic Learning Center families and staff.

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

Somerville is home to many musicians, music groups, and organizations, and Somerville Housing Authority residents and affiliates deserve access to the wonderful work that they do. To that end, we are seeking connections between the Somerville music community and the Somerville Housing Authority through a new series of all-ages public workshops. 

Unless otherwise noted, these workshops will meet at the Mystic Activity Center, 

530 Mystic Ave. Somerville, MA 02145. 

Watch our calendar for upcoming workshops!