Give In-School Music Classes to Los Angeles Youth

5th Grade ETM-LA Partner School Student Reese and her family moved to California one month before the COVID-19 lockdown. She immediately faced the challenges of adapting to a new school in a new environment, on top of dealing with the pandemic. Reese became immersed in ETM-LA’s music program at her new school in Canoga Park through distance learning. 

Through the isolation of learning outside of the classroom, Reese shares, “Music class made it easier to get to know more people. I’ve made a bunch of new friends and met some amazing new teachers through music and singing!”

Her mother, Maria, says: “Music class really played a big role in her coping with the lockdown. It was a really great experience for her since it was done through virtual classes. She also gave herself time to play her ukulele and learn new songs that she likes.”

Music helped Reese feel connected to her peers, and Reese’s family back home is so happy seeing her doing well after their move. Maria shares, “Music is important, and studying it will bring a lot of changes and discoveries to children.”

Last month, over 100 students from ETM-LA partner schools enrolled in this year’s two-week Virtual Summer Program, where they enjoyed learning and fun while participating daily in virtual strings ensemble, band, or general music and vocal instruction courses.

Each day began with a “Music Health & Wellness” session led by Music Teacher and Therapy Specialist Ricardo Hurtado, during which students shared their feelings, participated in movement exercises, and explored diversity with their classmates. The students then continued onto their specialized classes, which revolved around a jazz/blues theme. Lessons ranged from instrumental improvisation and vocal scatting, to songwriting using instruments and software such as Quaver Music.

The students excitedly learned how to play new instruments and expanded their skills on their current instruments, like David, who joined to “continue [his] drums knowledge.” Hazel expressed her gratitude for ETM-LA’s music program: “It kept music in my life through the pandemic, and then summer.”

Parents and siblings joined in on the fun at home too! An ETM-LA Parent shared: “My kids looked forward to their sessions every morning; they enjoyed being a part of the Zoom community with other kids. They had fun and knowledgeable teachers and were exposed to new music genres, artists, and instruments.”

This past school year, ETM-LA continued to provide uninterrupted distance learning instruction and resources to 46 schools and approximately 19,000 students across LA County. In our upcoming 16^th year of programming, your support will help ETM-LA continue closing the gap for low-income area schools that remain deprived of in-school, yearlong music and arts programs. We are more resolved than ever in our mission to support equity and access in providing quality music education.

Thank you to those who have generously given to help provide important music education services to under-resourced schools, and to students like Reese, David, & Hazel!

ETM-LA provides quality, yearlong, in-school music instruction in under-resourced Los Angeles schools as part of the core curriculum for every child. Since its founding in 2006, ETM-LA has grown to serve approximately 19,000 students at 46 partner schools in Los Angeles County.

Links:

• ETM-LA Website