For partners, sponsors and investors

Help bring expert music lessons to students who've never had them.

GMI is early, and we're honest about that. Here's the problem, how GMI works, where we stand, and where your support makes the biggest difference.

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The problem

Talent is everywhere. Access isn't.

In many rural and low-income communities, a school has one music director and no private teachers nearby.

Private lessons are where most serious young musicians grow, and they're often out of reach because of cost, distance or both. Students with real talent stall out, not because they can't do it, but because no one is there to show them the next step.

The model

Expert teaching that can reach any student, at a low cost per student.

Professional teaching is recorded once and reaches every student. Hulili helps each student use it. Volunteer mentors provide the human connection.

Masterclasses

Professional teaching, shared widely

Recorded lessons from professional musicians, used with signed artist agreements and credit.

Hulili

An AI coach, always available

Answers students' questions from GMI's masterclass library and suggests what to practice next.

Mentors

Volunteers from university chapters

Trained, background-checked students who guide each GMI student toward instruments, teachers and opportunities.

Because mentors are volunteers, GMI's main costs are technology, masterclass content, mentor screening and a small fund for students' instruments and opportunities. See how it works in detail

The next 12 months

What we're working toward.

These are goals, not promises. We'll update them as we learn.

  • Recruit and train the first mentorsBackground checks, training and a written commitment for every mentor
  • Sign the first masterclass agreementsProfessional artists sharing lessons with GMI students
  • Build Hulili's first working versionAnswering from GMI's own masterclass library
  • Welcome the first GMI studentsA small pilot group, so we can learn what works before growing
  • Incorporate as an independent nonprofitWith a founding board that brings legal, financial and fundraising experience
  • Complete fieldwork in NepalThe Sarangi Documentation Project, late April to mid-June 2027
Ways to help

Where your support goes furthest.

Sponsor a student

Cover a student's place in GMI, including support for an instrument or an opportunity when they need it.

Ask about sponsoring

Fund the pilot

Help launch GMI's first group of students, mentors and masterclasses. We'll share our pilot budget on request.

Request the budget

Share a masterclass

Professional musicians can record or license a lesson for GMI students, with full credit.

Talk with us

Partner with GMI

Schools, arts organizations and community programs can connect GMI with students who need it most.

Start a partnership

Join the board

GMI is forming its founding board and looking for legal, financial and fundraising experience.

Ask about the board

Meet the founder.

Makoa Lewis grew up in rural Washington, performed with the LA Phil at 15, and is now a QuestBridge Scholar at Vanderbilt building GMI.

See Makoa's portfolio Meet the team