In 2019, Natalie Smith knew she wanted to do two things â find a new job and help people through music.
That was when the early conception of HEART Music, or Helping East Athens Rise Through Music, a nonprofit to bring free music education to east Athens schools, was born. Alongside her husband, Brian Smith, Natalie initially envisioned starting a standalone music studio on the eastside of Athens. They wanted to set up shop to teach music lessons with their talents as a flutist and guitarist, respectively.
The Athens couple specifically wanted to make music education free and accessible for kids attending east Athens schools, such as Cedar Shoals High School, Hilsman Middle School and Coile Middle School, where music education isnât widely affordable to all students.