Music Instruments & Supplies for NYC Kids

Happy spring from ETM! With little time remaining before spring concert season begins, ETM partner school students are working extra hard so that they can showcase everything they’ve learned this year. The growth these students have experienced is remarkable, especially for the 6,500 children in our newest partner schools. For these students, general music was not part of their regular school curriculum until September. Today, they continue improving and working together to become strong and well-rounded students.

For Xavier, a fourth grader at P.S./M.S. 279 in the Bronx, the introduction of music to his routine has made his overall school experience more fruitful and enriching. Xavier has had issues paying attention and staying on task. He loses focus very easily, which poorly affects his grades and general classroom performance. This has led to him getting very upset and having frequent emotional outbursts. However, Xavier’s music teacher noticed that Xavier was considerably calmer in her classroom. He participated in her class by asking and answering questions, and actively engaged with the subject matter.

Recognizing that he had musical gifts, Xavier’s music teacher encouraged him to join the choir, but he was hesitant since it meant staying after school for rehearsal. Initially, he would show up for rehearsal, but sulk the entire time. Within a few weeks, however, Xavier’s attitude started to change, and he now loves being in the choir. His teacher reports that he is one of the most dedicated choir members and is eager to get to rehearsal each week. Xavier’s positive experience in choir has transformed his total academic performance, and his other classroom teachers have commented on how much he loves music, and how he is doing much better at staying on task in their classes.

Music has provided a safe place where Xavier can positively express himself, and it’s renewed his excitement for school overall. Xavier will get to sing his heart out at the upcoming concert in May. A once reluctant choir member is now a dedicated and active participant. Your support of Education Through Music is helping Xavier and other students like him engage and focus in school. Thank you for your continued generosity and for helping the students in ETM partner schools get the opportunity to unlock their full potential. Show your support for ETM by sharing this report with friends or family, and let them know how far their support can go!

Happy New Year from ETM! After a restful holiday break, our partner school students are back in action and beginning a new semester of continued discovery. ETM’s program is reaching a record number of children across all five boroughs of New York City, and your support is helping 6,500 children in our newest partner schools who are receiving music instruction for the first time. Our teachers are working hard each and every day to give these students a voice.

For Michael, a first grader at P.S. 23 in the Bronx, music has given him so much more than a voice; it has given him the stamina and self-confidence to succeed in school and life. Adjusting to first grade has been difficult for Michael. He lives in a homeless shelter and lacks the stable support of a home life many of his peers have. In addition, as a child with autism, Michael faces daily obstacles in the classroom. He rarely speaks or participates in class, and does not absorb information as easily as his peers.

When Education Through Music partnered with Michael’s school this fall, every child in the school began receiving general music instruction, including children with special needs. This allowed Michael to start taking music classes, which helped him unlock a talent he didn’t know existed. Despite rarely participating in his other classes, Michael eagerly participates in his music class. His paraprofessional, who aids Michael in each of his classes, has been pleasantly surprised to see Michael participating consistently in music class. Music has provided Michael with a new level of engagement he hadn’t previously experienced, and his love of music continues to grow. Even his other classroom teachers have noticed and commented on Michael’s newfound passion.  

Michael’s music teacher noticed how quickly he was grasping the lessons she was teaching in her class. For instance, she’s been teaching rhythm and tempo to her first graders. When most of the class struggled to understand a new rhythm, ‘ta and ti ti’, Michael was the first student to master it. As a child with special needs, Michael often has difficult challenges in the classroom. This moment of understanding a concept, and being the first student in his class to do so, has given Michael a tenacity for learning that he hadn’t experienced before. Through his general music classes and the support from his teacher, he has discovered a natural talent and is gaining confidence in himself. Without Education Through Music, Michael may never have found this passion that is helping him to engage more deeply with school each day.

By supporting Education Through Music, you are helping students like Michael gain the confidence necessary to succeed in school. Thank you for supporting our model and for providing students with the tools that are helping them achieve more and more. Show your support for ETM by sharing this report with a family member or friend; let them know how far their support can go, too!