For years, Pennsylvania Academy of Music faculty and students have performed at assemblies and conducted music workshops at local elementary schools.

And for years, Music for Everyone has been providing instruments, sheet music and other resources for music students and teachers at some of those same schools.

Michael T. Jamanis, chair of the academy's string department, felt there had to be a way to combine the efforts of the two like-minded organizations to provide longer-term benefits to students.

So he approached Music for Everyone president John Gerdy with an idea: Why not have PAM instructors and students volunteer as mentors at Lancaster city schools with fledgling music programs but limited resources?

Gerdy helped link Jamanis with instructors and music programs at Washington and King elementary schools, which have benefited in recent years from instruments funded by Music for Everyone.

The resulting pilot outreach mentoring program, which started in March, "has surpassed my expectations," Jamanis said.

"I'm thrilled. This is a great opportunity for kids at Washington, King and the academy and the community at large because it creates wonderful camaraderie, builds self-esteem and does wonderful things."

Four days a week, the PAM instructors and students help out with band, choral and orchestra classes and practices at King.

Three days a week, they assist 70 orchestra students at Washington.

VIDEO: Washington Elementary orchestra practice

The younger students get one-on-one instruction from professional performers and pupils not much older than themselves who serve as inspiration.

And the PAM students — many of whom may end up as music teachers themselves — get a chance to test their hands at mentoring and teaching.

"Kids who were borderline are now showing more enthusiasm," Washington orchestra teacher Heather Fellenser said of her students.

"Seeing some of the more advanced techniques and seeing what eventually they're going to be able to do helps them a lot."

King music teacher Julie Osterhout said she noticed an improvement in her students after just 25 minutes of concentrated lesson time.

"What a difference it's made for the students," she said.

In addition to Jamanis, three other members of the PAM staff donate their time at the schools — Matthew Allison, chair of the wind department; Sara Male, cello instructor; and Jennifer Lobo, outreach coordinator.

The PAM student mentors, most of them high school pupils, include Beth Anne Katz; Emily Milanek; Holly Workman; Gina DiCarlo; Anne Marie; Valerie and Lindsey Horst; and Emma and Jordon Rast.

"I was a little worried at first, but the high school students have jumped right in and gotten involved," Fellenser said.

"The benefits are two-fold, with our students learning from them and them learning from our students."

PAM violin student Jordan Rast dashes over to Washington every Friday after his classes at McCaskey High School.

"They're a lot of fun," he says of the 10 budding third- through fifth-grade violinists he works with. "I teach them how to hold their instrument right and how to hold their fingers."

Jordan said he sees "a lot more talent in the younger group of kids than there is at high school."

"There's a lot of hope for the future," he said. "The kids get to see what they could become if they just practice the violin a little bit.

"Being a good role model is cool because they don't really have anyone else to look up to."

Ten-year-old Angel Plaza, who started playing the violin at Washington this year, said the PAM student mentors "are almost like professionals."

"I want to become like them," he said.

His classmate, Aniya Smith-Jones, a 10-year-old cello player, said she's learned a lot by listening to PAM student Emma Rast play her cello.

"I can hear it in my ear after she's done playing it, and I try to do the exact sound that's in my head," Aniya said.

The program is not designed to replace the schools' music curricula but to supplement it, Jamanis said.

"We're enriching. We're not there to change it," he said. "The more hands-on it is, the more inspiring and helpful it can be."

During orchestra practices on the tiny Washington stage, Jamanis can be heard imploring violin students to "play right next to the bridge."

"Get into the strings! I don't care if it's a little bit scratchy."

Jamanis said he gets a kick out of working with the youngsters.

"They light up when you come in to rehearse with them. They're eager and willing and very enthusiastic," he said.

"It's just like a clean canvas to work with, which I find really refreshing."

Jamanis and Gerdy said they're hoping the effort can continue next year, and Gerdy is exploring the possibility of adding new partners and additional schools.

The outreach programs will help Music for Everyone expand its mission from just helping to bridge the music funding gap to filling the "mentoring gap," Gerdy said.

The benefits of the mentoring program will come to fruition on May 22, when the Washington and King students join their mentors for a concert on the academy stage.

bwallace@lnpnews.com