About
Play It Forward Music Foundation Programs include a Free Weekly Preschool Music Hour, music lessons, and performance opportunities. The program offers free instruments, free lessons, and performance opportunities to children and people of all ages throughout Sonoma County. It also supports the whole musician, from beginner to professional, through community and school programs.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: $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
Play It Forward Music Foundation is a nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to foster connection through music by providing programming, instruments, lessons, and performance opportunities to people with limited access. Since 2017, Play It Forward Music Foundation has championed this vision and serves those who need it most through community and school programs, including partnerships with New Horizon School in Santa Rosa and Journey Academy in Sebastopol. The organization runs an instrument exchange where donors can give unused instruments such as guitars and trumpets, and it organizes and repairs donated instruments, including fixing guitars before they go to their permanent homes.
The foundation’s leadership team includes President Nick Simmons, Secretary Art Frengel, and board members Jennifer Frengal, Dave Traver, Ronni Sullivan, and Guy Tillotson, with founders Nick Simmons and Dave Silva drawing from their combined decades of teaching experience. Nick Simmons has been playing flute, guitar, and bass for 35 years and teaching music for almost 30 years. Art Frengel ran his own business for 40 years before retiring and has been in bands around the Bay Area for almost 20 years. Jennifer Frengal has been teaching piano since she was 16 years old and has raised over $50,000 through grants and donations as Executive Director. Board member Dave Traver is a retired lawyer with a career of helping people with disabilities and has served on public and nonprofit boards, while board member Ronni Sullivan is a retired electrician who fixes guitars, and board member Guy Tillotson brings skills as an educator, administrator, project manager, and volunteer.
A parent testimonial notes, “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.”
Last updated June 26, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: $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
Play It Forward Music Foundation is a nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to foster connection through music by providing programming, instruments, lessons, and performance opportunities to people with limited access. Since 2017, Play It Forward Music Foundation has championed this vision and serves those who need it most through community and school programs, including partnerships with New Horizon School in Santa Rosa and Journey Academy in Sebastopol. The organization runs an instrument exchange where donors can give unused instruments such as guitars and trumpets, and it organizes and repairs donated instruments, including fixing guitars before they go to their permanent homes.
The foundation’s leadership team includes President Nick Simmons, Secretary Art Frengel, and board members Jennifer Frengal, Dave Traver, Ronni Sullivan, and Guy Tillotson, with founders Nick Simmons and Dave Silva drawing from their combined decades of teaching experience. Nick Simmons has been playing flute, guitar, and bass for 35 years and teaching music for almost 30 years. Art Frengel ran his own business for 40 years before retiring and has been in bands around the Bay Area for almost 20 years. Jennifer Frengal has been teaching piano since she was 16 years old and has raised over $50,000 through grants and donations as Executive Director. Board member Dave Traver is a retired lawyer with a career of helping people with disabilities and has served on public and nonprofit boards, while board member Ronni Sullivan is a retired electrician who fixes guitars, and board member Guy Tillotson brings skills as an educator, administrator, project manager, and volunteer.
A parent testimonial notes, “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.”
Last updated June 26, 2026.
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