Encore

Encore is a program providing free opportunities for guardians (military, veterans, and first responders) to learn, write, play, record, and share music.

Join Encore

WHAT WE DO

  • EVENTS

    From live performances to our Beyond the Soundboard virtual series (with sessions on songwriting, music therapy, how songs work, instrument care, and more) to special workshops, we organize online & in-person events throughout the year.

  • JAMS

    Jams are regular sessions of casual community-based music experiences hosted by a trained Lead Musician. Guardians of any skill level are welcome to join — using their own instrument or one of ours. Come jam with us in Beacon, New York.

  • LESSONS

    We offer beginner to advanced lessons online for guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, and drum as well as song writing, music theory, and Logic Pro. Lessons start at your level & go at your pace, based on your individual goals and objectives with music. All ability levels welcome!

  • TRACKS

    A unique experience where we facilitate professional songwriting, recording in our custom studio, and the release of a guardian’s original music. This opportunity to share their story helps them process emotions as well as offer a potential professional path forward with music.

Our Tracks experience allows guardians to be a part of Guardian Revival Records and makes all of the aspects of a professional record label available to our guardians. The music industry is an extremely difficult field to navigate and can be extremely expensive. Guardian Revival Records provides guidance and assistance to our guardians at no cost to them.

We take guardians through the entire process:

  • Song writing & refining

  • Prepare guardians for the recording process & studio setup

  • Recording in our professional studio (with professional studio musicians)

  • Mixing & Mastering

  • Building a DistroKid and Spotify for Artists page

  • Ownership of music and personal artist page

  • Marketing promotion of music for release

Guardian Revival Records

As we continue to release new music, listeners will hear the range of sounds and lyrics that reflect the passion and experiences of our guardian community. We are honored to share their stories and songs with you. Thank you for listening.

Listen to our guardian artists

Our roster of talented artists is always growing and includes guardians from across the USA. We include and accept all music genres, tones, sounds and stories — which you can hear in the range of singer-songwriters and bands whose distinctive sounds will take you from the Deep South to the West Coast and beyond.

Please check out our artists and listen to their songs as they have poured their stories, experiences, and passion into their music:

Guardian Revival Records Spotify Playlist

Music Lessons

We offer professional lessons online — beginner to advanced, for guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, and drum as well as song writing, music theory, and Logic Pro — at no cost to guardians.

Lessons take place online so they're available no matter where you're located!

  • Matt Sorena, Encore Program Director. With a Masters in Music Therapy, a Bachelors in Music, and 20+ years of music experience, he is proficient in teaching guitar, ukulele, bass, piano, and rhythmic instruments.

  • Luc Aussavis, musician & guitarist. He's been playing guitar for over 18 years — blues, rock, funk, classical Spanish guitar. He can teach basic guitar skills and how to pick up & play any music you hear. Luc also runs our Beacon Jam Sessions, performances by the Encore Guardian Band, and helps with Tracks recording & mixing.

We start at your level & go at your pace, based on your individual goals and objectives with music. You can also learn basic music theory, if interested.

Join Encore to learn more and sign up for lessons!

Upcoming Events

VIEW ALL

Impact & Metrics

Encore empowers veterans, active duty military, and first responders through music and enables them to pursue their creative goals by providing opportunities for them to make and record music together. 

70+ years of research and focused studies show the beneficial effects of music:

Increases emotional expression & processing - Reduces anxiety & depression - Rehabilitates neural pathways in the brain - Fosters meaningful relationships & community

“Guardian Jams are the best part of my week. My mind gets to check out for a bit, and I get to just focus on the music with others like me who are passionate about the same thing.”

“Jams is a space where I can focus on music, through discussion, listening, and playing music. It is a time of temporary pause on the day to day chaos that life presents.”

The Set List: Encore Stories & Beyond

VIEW ALL

Help our guardians
make their music

Make a donation today to support our creative opportunities for military and first responders to experience the healing power of music.

Everything we offer is provided free of charge to our guardians so your contribution truly makes a difference!

Support

All our programs are provided free of cost to guardians, so the support of donations, volunteers, and sponsorships make it all possible.

Please contact us to discuss potential sponsorship options or in-kind donations, including used musical instruments: hello@guardianrevival.org

We can also help you set up an easy-to-use fundraising page, so you can collectively support a donation or sponsorship package with family, friends, or coworkers.

Learn More

Meet the Encore Team

  • Matt Sorena

    PROGRAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • Luc Aussavis

    OPERATIONS MANAGER

  • David Stagno

    MUSIC SPECIALIST

Keep in Touch

Follow us on Instagram: @guardianencore

Play Music with us

Encore welcomes first responders, veterans, and active duty military interested in music. Whether you have never picked up an instrument or have been playing for years, we’re excited to have you join us.

Join Encore