VISTA - Homeless families often have to give up a lot of the day-to-day amenities of life, not to mention extracurricular luxuries such as music lessons. However, with the help of one local woman, a center for homeless families and a grant from an area foundation, some homeless residents are finding a new melody.

Dyana Preti, a Vista resident who has taught piano and vocal lessons for 20 years, is bringing music lessons to residents of Solutions for Change, a nonprofit group that provides transitional housing for families while helping them find permanent homes and employment.

Christian Scott, 17, who lives at Solutions for Change with his mother, Michelle, has been taking guitar lessons for about two months through Preti's program, called Music Solutions. Christian's mom started on the piano about a month ago.

Christian said that taking lessons "gives us something to look forward to and shows us that we can be something."

Michelle Scott said she had bought a guitar for Christian a few years ago, but because the lessons were too expensive, Christian tried to teach himself. Christian had to leave his guitar behind when the Scotts moved into a homeless shelter in late June.

About a month later, the Scotts were accepted as residents at Solutions for Change, where Preti approached Michelle Scott about the Music Solutions program.

"I think it's really great," Scott said. "I knew Christian wanted to play guitar, but when Dyana asked me about it I asked, 'Oh, can adults play too?' I love the creative arts. I looked at it as an opportunity."

The program is funded by a $12,000 grant from the Oceanside-based Picerne Foundation. The grant is part of the foundation's Senior Artist Program, which supports mature visual, performing and literary artists from San Diego County, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.

Preti was awarded the grant in late spring and launched Music Solutions in June.

Preti teaches the piano and voice lessons and leads a children's ensemble while volunteer Zach Fishinger and Solutions for Change resident Randy Cardenas teach guitar.

Lessons are taught once a week and each student gets weekly assignments to work on at home - their apartments at the Solutions complex. In addition, they are required to practice at least 30 minutes a day. A few of the students, including the Scotts, are given loaner instruments to use at home, and each term, a few students can earn their own instrument by showing how dedicated they are to learning.

Preti said that although teaching the lessons is very rewarding, the program has presented unexpected personal and logistical challenges.

"I hadn't anticipated so much transition," she said, explaining that she has lost contact with some students she met in the first few months of the program when their parents left the program.

One of her main goals is to create an atmosphere where her music students can feel comfortable and supported.

"The circumstances that brought them here still plays a part, and I want them to know that it's OK to make a mistake," Preti said.

And so far, her efforts seem to be working, according to Michelle Scott.

"When we all come in here, our self-esteem isn't that great because of our situations," she said. "Dyana's great with us."