Education United States Project #2803

Give In-School Music Classes to Los Angeles Youth

by Education Through Music-Los Angeles (ETM-LA, Inc.)

Give In-School Music Classes to Los Angeles Youth

Project Report | Jan 8, 2018
Danica Finds Healing and Resiliency Through Music

By Ann Carrick | Communications Associate

5^th Grader Danica dealt with an emotional hardship after the unexpected absence of a loved one in her life. Her mother, Mireya, described how “she was constantly sad…[and was] diagnosed with ADD”. However, Mireya saw that Danica found strength in the arts. “At home she sings all the time, writes songs, or just makes them up on the spot…I am thankful that through choir she has shifted her sadness to being happy and wanting to express her thought through music, writing, and acting.” Danica’s emotions were not the only part of her life to improve through arts education. “At school her grades have gone up,” noted her mother, “especially in math. I have also noticed when [she is] writing she says the words in a rhythm.” She has been gaining resilience at a young age and “is very determined to do her best this year.”

Mireya truly believes in the importance of music education for all children, not just for Danica. “It gives them a sense of being themselves and being able to express their minds. [It] keeps them happy.” Long-standing research supports this. Studies show that music and arts education improves not only social-emotional health, but also school engagement and enhancement in other subject areas.* When asked what her favorite subjects are, Danica responded, “Music and Writing.” She loves to “learn new notes”. Music inspires her to grow.

Education Through Music-Los Angeles (ETM-LA) brings quality music education programs to students who need it the most, and we want to thank you for helping us further our mission! After 12 years, our organization has grown from serving 2 schools and 800 students our first year to reaching a planned 14,000 students this year with the power of music.

With your continued support, ETM-LA will be able to provide key services to disadvantaged schools and to more students like Danica.

Thank you for being part of our mission and providing children with hope for a brighter future through music education!

*Hallam, S. (2010). The power of music: Its impact on the intellectual, social and personal development of children and young people. International Journal of Music Education, 28(3), 269-289.

*Ruppert, S. S. (2009). Why schools with arts programs do better at narrowing achievement gaps. Education Week, 29(5).

Links:

Permalink

Oct 30, 2017
Music Gives Diego Confidence

By Esther Trigueros | Development Associate

Diego performing at a community event.

For twelve consecutive years, Education Through Music-LA has seen music impact our students and communities in positive ways. For Diego, a student at one of our partner schools, music is a driving force and inspiration in his life. It motivates him to try and try again in order to be the best that he can be. “When I’m in music class, I feel like I need to be there because I don’t want to miss any class [so that I can get to] a good level," he shares. His mother, Yenny, has also seen the impact music has had in her son’s life. “Ever since he was young, he has always been restless and had a bit of difficulty focusing. However, I have seen a huge difference since he began playing an instrument. I have seen how it helps him concentrate, including how his mood changes, and also how he finds peace in music.”

Thanks to supporters like you, students have the opportunity to be the best versions of themselves and find their passion in life through a well-rounded education that includes music, just as Diego has. Understanding the importance of this opportunity, Diego proclaims, “I want to be a professional violinist and make music for students all around the world. I can even teach classes to kids [who don’t] have [the] opportunity to learn music in schools.”

Diego is one of the 12,000 students we are currently serving with comprehensive, sequential, in-school music instruction. With your continued support this year, we will be able to expand to serve 30 schools and 14,000 students with music education in order to enhance their academic, general, and emotional development. “Music is a part of me so I feel happy when I’m playing the violin - I just feel confident, [more] like myself,’ he shares.

Thank you for joining our mission and providing children with hope for a brighter future through music education!

Student Diego proudly poses with ensemble members.

Links:

Permalink

Jul 31, 2017
When A Teacher Sees Impact

By Ann Carrick | Communications Associate

Erik Garcia, Music Teacher

Music Teacher Erik Garcia, who joined the Education Through Music-Los Angeles team a couple years ago, lights up talking about the transformation he witnesses in students after even just a few months of music education. “I’ve seen kids go from really shy and not confident at all, to out in the playground making connections with people,” says Garcia. “That’s really what it’s all about…living through art and being able to express in that way, making you whole.”

Garcia teaches at Rio Vista Elementary, where he says the staff is very encouraging and promoting of the music program. The students, too, have a lot to share about the program and confirm Garcia’s thoughts about confidence. A 5^th grade student who has struggled with speech delay since age 2 shares, “Music class makes me feel like I don’t have to be embarrassed when I make mistakes in my playing because the other kids are making mistakes, too. Music class also makes me feel happy – that I am getting to learn to play a fun instrument like the saxophone.”

Education Through Music-Los Angeles (ETM-LA) trains its teachers through quality professional development programs to ensure top notch instruction and to continue creating impact through the music teachers. “We’re all teachers, but we’re also all students and we strive to be better and grow together” shares Garcia. ETM-LA music teachers are professional artists and educators from a myriad of musical backgrounds including jazz, classical, band, vocal, and world music and see on average over 12,000 children per week throughout such Los Angeles County regions as Boyle Heights, Burbank, Chinatown, Compton, East LA, Pasadena, San Fernando Valley and South Central. Through over 100 hours of professional development and mentorship for ETM-LA teachers per year - including ETM-LA’s weeklong intensive Summer Training Institute - music teachers continue to receive feedback and support to improve upon teaching skills.

The teachers and students aren’t the only ones growing, however. ETM-LA will be expanding to 30 partner schools within the year reaching 14,000 students with quality, sequential music education as part of the core curriculum. We are very excited about our growth and our impact, as shared by our music teachers! Thank you for your support in this impact and in our music programs. Every child deserves a quality, well-rounded education that includes music, and you are part of the change to get there.

Warm Wishes,

Victoria Lanier

Links:

Read more about us here

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... 14 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.