Music Lessons Coming To Tulsa Boys’ Home Thanks To Partnership With Passionate Musicians

A group of boys at The Tulsa Boys’ Home are getting the opportunity to take music lessons from some very educated and passionate musicians. A local band started a nonprofit and partnered with the Tulsa Boys’ Home to make this program possible. 

"I started playing drums when I was six or seven years old," said Danny DeVore with Acoustic Freight Train Instrument Donation.

DeVore is one of the lucky ones. He found his passion early in life and made a career out of it.

"The music in my life has opened the door for so many opportunities," said DeVore. 

He is retired now but his passion for music hasn't stopped – it’s evolving.

In the last year, his band, Acoustic Freight Train, started a nonprofit where they give away instruments and teaching lessons. 

"We have given over 60 instruments, and we have been able to do this, not only for underprivileged children but also to very, very fine organizations such as the Owasso Baptist Children’s Home, we have given them to the Laura Dester Children's Center," said DeVore, "It is priceless the amount of joy it brings to see the smiles, the eyes open as big as silver dollars on these kids."

The nonprofit has now partnered with Tulsa Boys’ Home to bring music classes to the 64 boys there.

"They are going to be able to have the value of regular classes over the next eight weeks," said DeVore, "It is three phases. We like to empower youth through the power of music. Another phase of that is we want to be able to teach them life skills. The third phase is to be able to interact with them to help them become better players."

Hannah will be instructing the Tulsa Boys’ Home classes. 

"She was able to graduate from Ohio State University Summa Cum Laude - that is the top of the line," said DeVore. 

"Music is one of the most powerful mediums of communication on our planet, as well as being a powerful influence of and reflector of cultural values, ideals, and attitudes,” Gregory Conway, the Executive Director Tulsa Boys’ Home, said. “Not to mention how learning and making music teaches discipline, communication, teamwork, and cooperation. We need this to be an integral part of our Tulsa Boys' Home treatment program of healing and hope."

If you would like to give, visit the Acoustic Freight Train Instrument Donation website here or the Tulsa Boys’ Home website here.