Information for YYO Families

Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra

 2025-26 Season Calendar for Families

All YYO activities will meet on the following dates unless otherwise noted. Please reserve the hours of 9 AM-11:30 AM on Saturday mornings until you receive your class schedule. 

Community Days (November 1, 2025 & February 14, 2026)- We will offer special community-building activities for YYO students and families in attendance.

Fall 2025 Term:

9/20 - Orientation (required for both new and returning families) - Sign up HERE to volunteer!

9/27 - First Day of Classes

10/4

10/11

10/18

10/25

11/1 - Community Day

11/8

11/15

11/22

11/29 - Holiday Closure - No Classes

12/6

12/13 - Last Day of Fall Term

12/14 - Fall Informance

Spring 2026 Term:

1/31 - First Day of Spring Term

2/7

2/14 - Community Day

2/21

2/28

3/7

3/14

3/21

3/28

4/4 - Spring Break - No Classes

4/11

4/18

4/25

5/2 - Last Day of Spring Term

5/3 - Spring Showcase



Absence Notification Form - coming soon

Class Location & Mode of Instruction:

All classes are offered in-person.

Rehearsal Site: 510 Emerick Street, Ypsilanti 48198

 

Family Involvement

  • We ask that parents/guardians of beginner students attend class with them, sitting with the students and engaging with them as they participate in class.

  • Parents/guardians who have more than one beginner student in YYO classes may rotate between their students’ classes.

  • Families may sign up for volunteer opportunities throughout the season. Volunteer opportunities include: Helping with set-up/take-down on Saturday mornings, serving on our board or committees, helping with fundraising, and helping with publicity. Link to sign up coming soon!

  • YYO families are welcome to connect with each other through our private Facebook group, Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra Parents, Guardians, and Family Sponsors | Facebook.

Instruments

YYO exists to provide students with access to music education. For some families, the inability to obtain an instrument is a barrier to that access. If a family needs assistance obtaining an instrument, there are resources in our community that we can recommend.

  • Instrument options: Students may bring their own instruments, rent instruments from a retailer, or request to borrow a YYO instrument (based on availability). A list of local retailers is available HERE.

    • 2025-26 season: The distribution of instruments for the 2025-26 season will start on September 27. If you indicated you need an instrument, you will be contacted directly when an instrument is available.

    • Students may only borrow one (1) YYO instrument at a time. We ask that you and your family be extra careful and loving of the instrument!

    • We strive to make every available instrument accessible to students who need them. We ask families who can rent or purchase an instrument to consider those options before requesting to borrow a YYO-issued instrument. This will allow YYO to make more instruments available for families who cannot rent or purchase an instrument.

  • Class instructors will advise families when students are ready to begin working with instruments and music stands.

  • Students registered for Lil’ Drummers will need a drum pad and sticks.

  • Students enrolled in Do-Re-Migos will not need an instrument for their class.


Protocols:

  • Our partner organization, Ypsilanti Community Schools, requires us to provide Pre-Placement Instruction to all YYO students and families before they can attend classes in YCS buildings. We provide this instruction in our registration form and through our Parent Orientation. YYO families are expected to respect YCS building policies while in the building.

  • Update to our COVID Protocols: Masks are optional. Contact tracing is no longer required.