Young girl singing into a microphone on stage, wearing a white shirt and jeans, with a man playing keyboard in the background.

Transforming lives through music

At Play It Forward Music Foundation of Sonoma County, we're putting instruments in the hands of those that wouldn't otherwise hold them and teaching music skills that enrich a lifetime.

Play it Forward

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Play it Forward ☻

Music belongs to Everyone. We provide free instruments, free lessons, and performance opportunities to both children and people of all ages throughout Sonoma County. Every note played creates ripples of change in our community.

Our Focus —

Four women sitting around a table in an office-like room, one person holding a guitar energetically, others smiling and watching.

Music belongs to Everyone

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Music belongs to Everyone ☻

Two young, male musicians performing outdoors; one playing acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone, the other playing drums.

Donate an Instrument —

That guitar in your closet could be someone's gateway to self-expression. Your unused trumpet could become someone’s artistic voice. Donate your instrument today and watch it take on new life.

Fund a Musical Journey —

$175 funds a month of lessons for students of all ages. $525 supports lessons for 3-months. $2,100 supports a music student for a year. Your contribution creates immediate musical opportunities.

Join Our Ensemble —

Music teachers: Bring your talents to students who need them most. Partner with us to expand our reach and transform more lives through music education.

Person playing a cello in a cozy room with music stands, books, and a plant in the background.

“Johnny loves the cello.”

“He works through his frustration instead of getting stuck. The smile and look on his face when he finally plays the piece correctly is amazing. Thank you for giving him this opportunity.”

- Shannon, parent

Child playing upright piano with sheet music, surrounded by house plants in a cozy room.

Serving Our Community

We provide a Free Weekly Preschool Music Hour, and partner with New Horizon School in Santa Rosa and Journey Academy in Sebastopol, reaching young people who might otherwise never experience music education. We believe music belongs to everyone—regardless of background, race, religion, or financial circumstances.

Play it Forward

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Play it Forward ☻

Since 2017, Play It Forward Music Foundation has championed a bold vision: that music belongs to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances or access barriers.

At our core, we believe in supporting the whole musician—from beginner to professional—creating a sustainable ecosystem where both students and teachers thrive in a musical community.

Our Roots —

Supporting the Whole Musician

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Supporting the Whole Musician ☻

Amplify our work

Upcoming events

Join Play It Forward for community events

Community Partners

Community Partners

Our community partners don't just support our mission—they amplify it, creating a powerful network that allows music education to reach further, impact deeper, and transform more lives than we could ever accomplish alone.

Logo for Stanroy Music Center, Santa Rosa - Black with white background
Logo of TLC Child and Family Services with a design featuring trees and a sun, alongside text celebrating 50 years.
Logo of New Horizon School with a silhouette of a bird.
Logo of Community Foundation Sonoma County with multicolored geometric shapes.
Logo of Junior League of Napa-Sonoma with red emblem.
Logo for the Living Room Non-Profit. Illustration of a blue couch with a red heart on it, next to a blue floor lamp, with a large heart shape in the background.