Spectrum News 2020
BY MAGALY AYALA FORT WORTH PUBLISHED 9:53 AM CT NOV. 10, 2020
FORT WORTH, Texas — Armond Vance is a violinist, duelist, pianist and composer who relocated from Ohio to Fort Worth to serve his purpose: “to teach music to middle school students.”
“[I] started playing violin when I was in middle school actually, which is always a story I share with [students],” said Vance.
The musician is intentional about teaching in the east Fort Worth area. He says he wants youth in underrepresented communities to discover the power of music.
"I really wanna show and inspire young kids – Black and Hispanic – to let them know that just because you don’t see yourself within this field, within this sphere, doesn’t mean you don’t belong. Sometimes you just gotta make a seat for yourself at the table,” he said.
His main goals are to ensure the inequities some of his students face do not stop them from playing, especially amid the pandemic.
"I have been trying to figure out a way to combat those inequities and accommodate those students and one of those ways was through obtaining donations from my social media platforms,” he said.
Vance has been collecting funds to help cover essential orchestra supplies such as rosin, shoulder rests, and other accessories for each individual student so they continue learning without having the share.
“I was able to provide those basic necessities that would otherwise have to come out of our limited funds that we have. I was able to obtain those items so that every student could have their own thing and we wouldn’t have to risk the possible transmission of any germs,” added Vance.
There are no limits for the young instructor when it comes to helping and empowering his students.
In his personal time, the teacher performs at events around Dallas-Fort Worth and says he uses some of those earnings for supplies as well.
For Vance, it’s about keeping the music going so that it continues to build his students’ confidence and transforms their life the way it did for him.
