Join our Community Service Chair Linda at Banding Together’s Jam Session in El Cajon. She volunteers there every Thursday during the 6-week program. Email us at mverotary@gmail.com so we can register you through our team on HandsOn San Diego.

Be a mentor to 1-4 teen/young adults with special needs, such as autism, while they learn to play music. Volunteer mentors provide encouragement, model expected group behaviors, give compliments, give directions, and help their mentees build friendships and practice social skills. Mentors are important because they help the students with special needs gain social skills (e.g. learning how to make eye contact, have a conversation, have self control, etc.) that are essential to living a meaningful life in their community.

No matter your level of musical experience, you'll have a great time shaking a shaker, playing a drum, signing along and much more. Before and after the group, volunteers assist with set up (unloading musical equipment, setting up chairs, music stands, music books, etc.), process with the volunteer team after (complete a journal entry about experience and rate mentee responses), and tear down (load equipment).

About Banding Together

Founded in 2009, Banding Together’s mission is to bring music opportunities to individuals with special needs in our community. This is accomplished through key objectives that include providing: music therapy scholarships, free Jam Session programs, mentorships, and instruments.