An R-Center program in Rochester is looking to recruit older students interested in learning or getting better at playing an instrument, although any city of Rochester student can participate.

The R-Centers in Rochester give students a safe place to study, eat and play when not in school. Most afternoons you can hear the sound of basketball — or perhaps pool.

But three days a week, at the Gantt R-Center, a different sound fills the halls — the sound of music.

Teachers like Sarah Song work with more than 100 students across the city, teaching them to play an instrument for free.

“There a lot of financial hurtles, there’s always something financially to be done with a string instrument, especially,” Song said.

It’s part of the ROC Music Collaborative, a partnership between the city and organizations like the Eastman School of Music and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra that ensures every kid in Rochester who wants to, has a chance to learn music.

“Rochester itself has great arts institutions in the city, but there seems to be a disconnect between people in the city and the people that use those institutions,” said Dr. Armand Hall, Roc Music director.

Instruments, teachers, and transportation are all provided for the students at absolutely no cost.

“You may not be able to afford the lessons," Hall said. "Can you afford to get to the lessons, do you know where to go to get the lessons?”

Moses Burks, 7, has been learning the violin through the program for just a month.

“They’re teaching me how to learn, how to play and how to make sounds with it,” Burks said.

He thinks music is pretty great.

“It’s fun and you get to learn new things every day.”

And Song says that’s why it’s an art worth learning.

“Learning a string instrument, or just being in music in general, teaches you invaluable lessons like work ethic, motivation, perseverance." said Song.