ORLANDO, Fla. — Everyday Hero Kayja Jones is paying it forward through music.

Jones learned the beauty of music as she was growing up, and it turned into her life goal.

Today, she takes her time to teach Central Florida children the same love of music that she learned, at a time when their brains are like sponges.

“Life skills that you gain from being a musician can include being able to focus,” Jones said. “Then also, it can just teach you how to be more organized, because the further and the higher you get with your instrument, you get lots and lots of music.”

The youths she volunteers to teach are with the program, A Gift for Music, which is part of the Central Florida nonprofit, A Gift for Teaching. The music program offers free lessons and instruments to children.

“I think, especially at this stage, it’s important that they’re in tune and that they know exactly what it’s supposed to sound like,” Jones said. “So I have to do this every single week.”

Jones started her own music lessons in third grade, started volunteering when she was a senior in high school in 2020 and is now at Valencia College, starting her journey toward becoming a full-time music teacher.