Education Through Music-Los Angeles (ETM-LA) successfully provided yearlong music education to over 1,750 students in the 2008-2009 school year at the following seven partner schools: Castelar Elementary, El Dorado Elementary, Madison Elementary, Nativity, Rio Vista Elementary, St. Ignatius, and St. Sebastian Schools. This 2009-2010 school year, ETM-LA is thrilled to continue our partnerships and to expand to serve more grades and one new partner school in January 2010.

Surveys collected from partner school academic teachers at the end of the last school year showed that teachers strongly agreed their students successfully acquired music skills, and that the music instruction supported improvement in their motivation and math and reading skills. One teacher commented that students “gained a greater sense of focus,” and that one student in particular “increased his engagement in work” as a result of receiving music instruction. Another stated, “I believe that the music classes were extremely beneficial to my students' sense of accomplishment. It helped them practice perseverance, something that can be applied to other academic areas, but particularly in math, where so many struggle.”

In August 2009, ETM-LA held a four-day intensive Summer Training Institute for its teaching artists and music teachers from other arts organizations. The institute focused on topics including lesson planning, music and movement, and inclusion strategies and working with diverse student populations. Also in the Spring of 2009, ETM-LA was invited to present its professional development model to stakeholders of the YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) program, based on the Venezuelan national youth orchestra program, El Sistema, from which new LA Philharmonic Music Director Gustavo Dudamel emerged.

ETM-LA sincerely thanks you for your continued support in reaching the lives of thousands of at-risk youth with quality music instruction as part of a well-rounded education. In the midst of growing arts budget cuts, with your help, children will continue to receive equal opportunities for future success through music education.

Please let us know if you have feedback on how to continue to spread the word out about Education Through Music-Los Angeles and the importance of the arts and music in a child’s development.

Pictures:

• Violin Class 2008-2009 School Year (JPG)