Music education, senior engagement, and community connection — a Boston nonprofit creating programs for young musicians and older adults.
Student Music Project is a Boston nonprofit organization creating educational, cultural, and community-support programs for young musicians and older adults. Our roots are in the live-music tradition of Wally’s Cafe, where our student jam sessions began — part of a Wally’s Cafe jam-session tradition dating to the early 1960s that has given generations of emerging musicians a real stage.
From that foundation, our work has grown to combine music education with senior social engagement, digital-safety training, shared meals, and fresh-food access. We believe music can teach discipline, build confidence, preserve history, reduce isolation, and connect people across generations.
To connect generations and strengthen communities through live music, education, mentorship, senior enrichment, digital-safety training, and accessible community-support programs.
Our programs are community-based, intergenerational, accessible, practical, respectful, and partnership-driven — designed around real community needs.
A Boston where young musicians have places to learn through performance, older adults stay connected to music and community life, senior residents can access programs inside their own buildings, and musicians, businesses, agencies, and community organizations work together — with every participant treated with dignity and respect.
Student Music Project is led by community-based leadership with experience in music programming, youth mentorship, senior engagement, nonprofit partnerships, and Boston’s cultural community.
Executive Director
Frank F. Poindexter leads the Student Music Project’s youth music education, live jam sessions, senior enrichment programs, digital-safety education, community partnerships, fundraising, and program development. His work connects student musicians, older adults, cultural institutions, senior-housing communities, and public agencies through music, mentorship, meals, and practical educational programming.
