Go Excel Inc., a start-up nonprofit organization in Bloomington, is working toward making musical instruments as easily accessible as books in a library, director and founder Chris Chasteen said.
Go Excel Inc. is passionate about providing opportunities to anyone interested, regardless of age, experience or education, Chasteen said. The organization’s instrumental program is hoping to provide the resources for people to use and learn musical instruments.
He said Go Excel Inc. differs from other nonprofit educational programs because it doesn’t require knowledge or experience.
“If some lady decided she wanted to learn how to play the piano, she could,” Chasteen said. “And if she didn’t like it, she could try the cello.”
The organization is passionate about teaching things that can’t be learned on the Internet, Chasteen said.
The Internet and resources such as YouTube can teach you how to play an instrument, but there’s a physical need in order to learn, Chasteen said.
Go Excel Inc. hopes to fill that physical need, Chasteen said.
“I have a dream of having centers for people to go and learn to play instruments,” Chasteen said.
This reality is several years down the road, but for now the organization is trying to make a big difference on a resourceful budget, Chasteen said.
The organization’s biggest event is its Holiday Concert in December. The event features local Indiana artists and incorporates a toy drive, which brings in useful supplies and help from other nonprofits, like Girls Inc. Future plans such as supplying instruments in town for people to stop by and play with for a day are being looked into, Chasteen said.
Eventually, the organization hopes to work with school corporations and libraries. Until then, grants and other factors are being worked out, Chasteen said.
As the organization continues to grow, volunteers are needed and welcomed, Chasteen said.
In the future, music students could mentor individuals learning to play an instrument, Chasteen said, but volunteers are welcome to help utilize the organizations’ social media pages as well.
More volunteer opportunities will be made available as Go Excel Inc. continues to grow and expand, Chasteen said.
