PROGRAMS | Arts

Arts

In a variety of arts offerings, Lawrence youth harness creativity and discover passions, often with the support of older YDO Kids.

Every term and each summer, students have opportunities to explore different media, with many classes for younger YDO Kids being taught by older ones. Programming builds creativity, confidence, fine and gross motor skills, discipline, focus, resilience, problem-solving, and inventiveness.

Sample of YDO Arts Courses:

Music Lessons:

We offer YDO Kids individual music lessons, which they can take term after term, year after year.

• YDO Strings: Through our YDO@Phillips Academy partnership, nearly 20 years strong, students take weekly instrument lessons—on their choice of violin, cello, piano, or harp—delivered by Philllips students in Andover.

• Piano Lessons: We offer individual weekly piano lessons, delivered by a renowned local pianist and educator. Students meet in the YDO piano studio, and we provide each with a keyboard for practice at home.

Merrimack Valley Youth Choir:

As members of the choir, YDO Kids in Grades 3-8 receive weekly voice instruction after school over three terms as well as opportunities to publicly perform.

ydShow:

After years of partnering with the Performing Project—a youth musical theater program in Newburyport—YDO incorporated it into the organization beginning in summer 2023. Today, this five-week immersive theater program is delivered as part of YDO Summer. Lawrence youth in Grades 3-8 take daily classes that prepare them to put on a full musical theater production each August.