Playing the Violin Strengthens Joshua’s Focus
In a recent essay, 6th Grader Joshua explained the physiological effect music has on people. He wrote, “People may feel uneasy or stressed out at times and studies have shown that music can severely reduce stress in the body. As people play their instruments, their unpleasant energy transfers into a more positive energy, as a result reducing the heart rate that leads to stress.”
This bright young student uses music to de-stress and to relax. Joshua shared “Music is important to me because after school – after studying and doing homework – I can just relax to music and enjoy it.” As a violinist, he also explained how the intricacies of playing an instrument helps strengthen his focus. Joshua’s mom added, “Studying music is vital for Joshua and all students because music helps children strengthen their communication, math, and problem-solving skills and helps children to focus and to develop teamwork.”
Joshua has experienced the benefits of music education, and he will carry these skills with him for the rest of his life, no matter what his future holds. Joshua shared, “Music makes me feel happy because there are so many ways of expressing yourself with music.”
Joshua’s mom confided, “I have been yearning for my children to play an instrument. As we have limited time and resources, learning to play instruments was considered a luxury. But Joshua and his older sister, Abellaine, are playing violin thanks to ETM-LA. From the depths of my heart, thank you to ETM-LA teachers and staff for all your dedication and hard work.”
Summer Academy for the New School Year
In August, our dedicated teachers and local educators came together in person for Education Through Music-LA’s intensive week-long Summer Academy. Participants explored culturally relevant and diverse strategies for teaching music in under-resourced communities, best practices in classroom management and procedures, student engagement, curriculum design, and more. Teachers and staff alike were excited to reunite and dive into preparing for the new school year!
Guest presenters Dr. Ric Alviso (Ethnomusicologist/ Composer; Santa Monica College; CA State University, Northridge) and Keith Terry (Percussionist/ Rhythm Dancer/ Educator; UCLA; Founding Director, Crosspulse) led workshops covering a wide range of topics along with ETM-LA’s Program Department and Faculty.
ETM-LA believes in continually amplifying the voices of our students and communities. Therefore, Cultural Equity and Inclusion (CEI), Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT), and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) remain paramount in our ongoing practices and training. The Academy featured workshops on Multicultural Music Exploration, Using CRT and SEL as Building Blocks to Classroom Success, Getting to Know Your Community, and more topics – offering key tools to help teachers more deeply research, reflect upon, and explore ways to build cultural, authentic connections.
After intimate round-table discussions with local district leaders, school psychologists, and experts in social services, one music teacher shared: “Each table addressed a very intimidating aspect of teaching and I feel much more confident in my ability to navigate those situations. I’m also very grateful to have those connections and support systems in place if I need help.”
Other feedback from participants included: “[It was] very helpful to see the direct relationships between grade level and the objectives and ideal teaching methods for each age group.” And when asked what the most invaluable takeaway was, one member responded, “Everything!”
ETM-LA looks forward to continuing this vital work during the 2022-23 school year!
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On March 13-14, 2019, Education Through Music-Los Angeles hosted its 9th Annual Music Unites the World Festival as part of Music In Our Schools Month® (National Association for Music Education). Approximately 700 students were in attendance to perform songs from around the world, from 32 of ETM-LA’s partner schools across Los Angeles County.
The two-day festival showcased the musical achievement of Los Angeles youth, along with the transformative power of music to unify people of all ages and from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and geographies. Many children performed together for the first time, bridging communities, schools and school districts. ETM-LA student Katie remarked, “I think it's amazing how fast we can make friends just by the love of music.”
When asked how it felt to be a part of the festival, Layanna enthusiastically replied, “I feel like a superstar!” She continued that her favorite part has been “sharing this time with my friends.” Learning music has had a positive impact on Layanna and has given her tools for dealing with her emotional health and that of her family. “When I'm sad, music helps me be happy. Whenever my mom gets sad, she plays music and I sing to the music, and that makes her happier. And it makes me happy when my mom is happy. So that's why I love to sing.”
The festival culminated with hundreds of youth voices united in song on the 2019 ETM-LA competition-winning composition, appropriately titled "Music Unites the World." In an essay that the students submitted on the theme, Frankie wrote that “music bonds us to each other by creating a shared experience with one another.”
Emilio Garza, principal of new ETM-LA partner school Elysian Heights Elementary, commented on the transformation of his students due to ETM-LA’s involvement this school year. “We recently had our winter program... our kids have an amazing voice and they were really able to showcase it during our event. I couldn't be happier with what ETM-LA has been able to do with our children, and how they've been able to grow and express themselves in a musical way.”
View Photo Gallery: http://etmla.org/9th-annual-music-unites-the-world-festival-gallery/
Thanks to supporters like you, in its 13th year, Education Through Music-Los Angeles (etmla.org) is partnering with 36 disadvantaged LA County schools to provide quality music instruction to approximately 15,000 children as part of the schools’ core curriculum.
Music has had a huge impact on Student Alumnus Rogelio by "motivating him to accomplish anything in [his] mind," says his mother, Fabiola. "Before, he would give up easily...because he was afraid of failure. The biggest change in him has been his tenacity to overcome any challenge," Fabiola shares.
These last several years, Rogelio received weekly music instruction and participated in the strings program at ETM-LA partner Providencia School. Through music, he found something that sparked his interest. Now at Luther Middle School, he is continuing his musical learning which has helped him to "express without words," remarks his mother. “Now that he’s part of [music class], we’ve seen how he is interested in reading music and learning any song genre by ear. At home he’s always trying to find new music to play along with and to improve himself.”
Music provides Rogelio with inner confidence. Rogelio shared, “I like going to music class and playing my instrument because I get to learn more about music alongside other people who share the same interest as me. It makes me feel confident in myself knowing that I know how to play an instrument.” Fabiola agreed that "when Rogelio is playing the violin he's a self-confident boy. The violin takes away that shyness in him."
Thanks to supporters like you, Rogelio was able to find his passion and an outlet through music.
His mother believes in the importance of music education for all children. "[Music] will give them a chance to change and better themselves." Long-standing research shows that music and arts education improves not only social-emotional health, but also school engagement and motivation for learning. Rogelio reflected, “If all the subjects are challenging you, you can always turn to music.”
Read Rogelio's full interview.
Thank you to those who have generously given to help provide key music education services to disadvantaged schools and to students like Rogelio.
Please note that this project has reached its fundraising goal – to stay involved with Education Through Music-Los Angeles, please visit our new GlobalGiving project:
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/give-in-school-music-classes-to-los-angeles-youth/
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This past summer, a group of 25 dedicated students spent hours of their vacation time rehearsing and recording the theme song from Star Trek Into Darkness, composed by ETM-LA Advisory Board Member Michael Giacchino. Their hard work certainly paid off, since a few weeks after recording they were asked to perform the theme song once more… but this time, at a much larger venue – the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles!
The students were thrilled to participate in a special halftime show for the Los Angeles Sparks' first-round WNBA playoff game vs. the Minnesota Lynx. It was a special, memorable event for the students and their parents alike, and a wonderful opportunity to spread the word about Education Through Music-LA and its mission to provide equal access to high-quality music education as part of the school day to students in disadvantaged communities across LA County.
Besides learning new music, the students also did some research into Star Trek and its characters. 5th Grader Eloise remarked, “My favorite character is Uhura because she’s a very powerful and smart woman. I’ve been with ETM-LA since kindergarten and I think the cello is a really cool instrument.” Luca (6th Grade) has been playing percussion for two years, and shared his love for performing and Star Trek. “It’s really fun to perform and I just love playing overall. I love how Star Trek is involved in space because I want to go to space someday. I love how they’re determined to accomplish a mission to go where no man has gone before. My favorite character is Captain Picard because he’s a good captain and he’s a really loveable character.” Samuel (6th Grade), “I like seeing how we can be like in the future, exploring new planets. My favorite character is Mr. Spock because he always keeps a level head and always uses reason to solve his problems. I like playing the violin because it mostly has the main parts and it’s more challenging.”
Fifteen-year-old José, an ETM-LA alumnus who played trumpet in the ensemble added, “I found another person in me. Ever since I started music I became a different man. It was like a light switch… my life has changed, everything has been good for me, and I just feel ever so lucky.”
Our students must have been a good luck charm, since the Sparks won the game 75-68! Check out our Photo Gallery and YouTube channel for video of the full performance.
Thank you for your continued partnership to create lasting change and impact for our students, so they may have equal opportunities for a successful future!
“Music makes me feel like I can show my expressions to other people and they know what I feel…” -Clara
Education Through Music-Los Angeles is thrilled to keep musical learning a part of a child's summer fun through the expansion of our Summer Music Programs at three locations across Los Angeles in Chinatown, Compton, and North Hollywood. The programs provide students with the chance to further explore a musical instrument and improve their skills as they continue their music education. In addition to receiving scholarships for ETM-LA's summer program, four ETM-LA students were also chosen to attend Choir Camp at the prestigious Colburn School!
ETM-LA student, Audrey, has been playing the cello for two years and enjoys the Summer Music Program. "This is my first time being in the summer program, and I really like it here. I love music and learning because it helps me express my feelings." Students are meeting new friends from across Los Angeles as they dive deeper into their learning of music theory, singing, composition, instrumental technique, ensemble playing, and songwriting.
Clara, a student at Norwood Elementary, shared with us her excitement about playing viola in Education Through Music-Los Angeles’s Music Unites the World Festival this March. “Being involved in this festival makes me overjoyed because people can express themselves through music. I feel great about that.”
Her father has observed the noticeable difference in Clara’s personality and demeanor. He explains, “Both at school and at home, we have noticed that Clara is more focused and more responsible, and she also has a more positive attitude. She goes around the house humming and singing, and is very happy.” He attributes Clara’s positive changes to music and states, “It is a must for not only children, but for everyone to get into rhythm with music.”
Clara is one of over 13,000 students across low-income Los Angeles County communities who receive quality music instruction as part of the school day.Join us as we expand to serve five additional disadvantaged schools and partner with more underserved LA County school districts this upcoming 2018-19 academic year. Your support will allow us to continue our mission to ensure that every child receives a well-rounded education that includes music.
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