LYNN — Just a few months after its ribbon cutting in December, the Demakes Family YMCA Music & Performing Arts Center in Lynn (MaPAC) is already buzzing with life, energy, and creativity.
On a recent afternoon, families filtered steadily through the doors, greeted warmly by Music Director Jon Glasser.
Standing near the entrance, Glasser welcomed parents and children by name when he could, pausing between conversations to point newcomers toward different rooms or encourage hesitant kids to “go try something new.”
Inside, the hum of music, laughter, and conversation filled the space which is exactly the atmosphere he hoped to create.
“Magic, just magic,” Glasser said of what he wants people to feel when they walk in.
“I want people to walk in and feel like they’re in another world… and that they can truly be themselves,” he added.
That vision is quickly becoming reality.
What began as an eight-year concept has transformed into a fully operational center serving hundreds of Lynn youth each week, offering everything from instrument lessons to digital production, podcasting, and performance opportunities.
“It has been a whirlwind of activity,” Glasser said, noting that six new staff members have recently been hired to support the growing demand.
The team includes instructors in piano, drums, guitar, voice, and digital production, many of whom are graduates of Berklee College of Music, as well as staff overseeing new programming.
A tour through the center reveals just how expansive those offerings are.
In one room, students gather in a podcast studio equipped with microphones, soundboards, and editing software.
The space has quickly become a favorite among younger participants, who use it not only to record podcasts but also to experiment creatively.
“They use it for multiple purposes,” Glasser explained. “They’ll connect music through Bluetooth and just start rapping with each other. They’re filming themselves, editing their own videos; it’s creative, but it’s also teaching them real skills.”
Down the hall, a recording studio allows students to produce original music or record covers.
A separate performance venue, complete with a customizable stage, projector, and professional sound system, is now hosting showcases where students perform for peers and family members.
“My favorite thing is seeing how supportive they are of each other,” Glasser said. “They’ll be cheering each other on, hyping each other up. That’s the culture we want here.”
That culture, he emphasized, is just as important as the technical training.
“To me, the most important thing is that this is a safe space,” he said. “We don’t want anyone putting each other down. We want to build each other up.”
The center’s approach blends structure with flexibility. While formal lessons are offered, many programs are intentionally designed to feel more like exploration than schoolwork.
In one class, students remix popular songs into humorous or creative versions; in another, they design their own artist personas, complete with logos and stage concepts.
“We don’t want it to feel like more school,” Glasser said. “They’ve already been in school all day. This should be fun.”
That philosophy extends to the center’s “lending library,” where students can try instruments before committing to one. From guitars and keyboards to percussion and wind instruments, the goal is to remove financial and accessibility barriers.
“A lot of times, kids don’t even know what they’d like because they’ve never had access,” Glasser said. “Here, they can try everything.”
The impact is already visible. Glasser pointed to one student who first arrived in December for a wellness drumming program and now comes in daily to practice piano, tracking his progress through interactive software that functions like “Guitar Hero, but with real instruments.”
Families, too, have embraced the center. Many parents stay for classes, return regularly, and even offer to volunteer or donate instruments.
“We’ve seen a lot of familiar faces,” Glasser said. “People are excited. They’re grateful their kids have something like this.”
As enrollment continues to grow with participation already doubling between early sessions, MaPAC is still finding its rhythm. But its mission remains clear: to provide Lynn youth with opportunity, creativity, and a place to belong.
“I didn’t think making music was possible until I was 18,” Glasser said. “I want them to know sooner that it is.”
Back near the entrance, as another group of families walked in, Glasser greeted them with a smile and a simple invitation that captures the spirit of the space:
“Go try something. You might find something you love.”
