Teaching Life Skills Through Music, since 2003

Rawkstars girl rocking out

Rawkstars is a youth development focused nonprofit that provides 100% free music programs for young people in MA and RI.  We see access to music as a basic human right, akin to clean water, health care and education. We remove obstacles to developing life skills through music, because talent is evenly distributed, opportunity is not.  #OpportunityRawks!

Mission & Programs:

  • RAWK ENROLL musical instruments, lessons and performance opportunities for local kids, 100% free of charge.
  • BEATS, BARS & BEYOND music making, production & hip-hop experience workshops with justice impacted youth.

The RAWKSTARS FAN CLUB: ARE YOU IN?

  • WHO
  • WHAT
  • WHY
  • IMPACT
Rawkstars fans and founders

Based in Massachusetts and spread throughout New England, the Rawkstars Fan Club is a tight group of people who are passionate about music. Some of us are amazing musicians, and some of us aren’t—but we’re all diehard fans of equal access to music education.

Rawkstars fans are in it for the long haul, some for more than 20 years! As a community, we know that music is a powerful way to express yourself, uncover your voice, and find your path. And we help kids embrace that power for themselves.

Man at concert with arms up and hands in rock symbol from behind

As a volunteer-run nonprofit, Rawkstars isn’t selling some patented music curriculum or fancy new concept. And we’re never going to be a nationwide household name.

And you know what? That’s exactly how we like it. We want to serve families in our local area, build a community of like-minded friends, and support local music shops…while giving kids the chance to rawk.

We provide instruments, music lessons, music therapy, studio access, and live performances—all 100% free for kids and their families.

Rawkstars students in music store being interviewed on the Kelly Clarkson show

Rawkstars isn’t trying to find the next Aerosmith or train the next Yo-Yo Ma. (But, hey, we might!) Instead, we exist for a simple reason: music is powerful. If you’ve ever done something you were scared of, something you thought you could never do, something that felt impossible—you understand.

It’s the butterflies of being on stage. The electric jolt of doing it. The burning desire to try again, to be better next time, to learn and to grow.

This is our why. This is what we’re teaching kids: yes, you can.

Two young men in park with arms around each other

Rawkstars was founded in November 2003 and has served more than 300 kids and teens in that time. In partnership with local music shops, we’ve taught kids how to strum a guitar, how to warm up vocals, and how to grip drumsticks.

But far more important than any musical skill is the wide range of life skills we’ve helped develop: confidence, resilience, self belief, perseverance, passion.

Music is experiential learning and its finest, and our Fan Club members are what make our impact possible!

Check Out Our Rawk Stories

Brandon
Joey
Aria
Juli
Rawkstars merch image

Spread the word about Rawkstars by repping our T-shirts, hats, stickers & more! 100% of proceeds goes to students.

What We Believe

Raised fist with bracelet icon

MUSIC IS A HUMAN RIGHT

Guitar pick with lightning bolts icon

MUSIC CHANGES LIVES

Rock symbol of lips with tongue out

TALENT IS EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED BUT OPPORTUNITY IS NOT

Heart with angel wings icon

MUSIC REVEALS THE EXISTING GREATNESS IN EACH OF US

Jess T former Rawkstars student and current teacher

Rawkstars really was such an amazing experience for me. I’ve always had a love and passion for music and your program gave me the opportunity to be able to explore and learn.

Jess T. Former Rawkstars student (and teacher!)

20 YEARS of youth development through music

300+

YOUTH SERVED THROUGH MUSIC

10k +

HOURS OF MUSIC PROGRAMS PROVIDED

$575k

IN FUNDS RAISED FOR MUSIC PROGRAMMING

100%

FREE PROGRAMS SINCE 2003

Rawkstars OG logo mark

Alone, we are raindrops, together we are the ocean! Join us in changing our families, communities and futures for the better, one music lesson at a time.