Mission: Education Through Music–Los Angeles, an independent 501(c)3 organization, began in the Fall of 2006 to provide and promote the integration of music into the curricula of disadvantaged schools in order to enhance students' academic performance and creative and general development.
Geographic areas served: Los Angeles County
Programs: In the 2010-2011 school year, etm-la served approximately 3,000 children in ten los angeles partner schools with music instruction once a week throughout the school year - disciplines included general music, chorus, recorder, guitar, violin, viola and cello - taught by professional teaching artists who use a comprehensive and sequential, skills-based curriculum that meets national and state content standards. Etm-la's ten partner schools in 2010-2011 were: castelar elementary, el dorado elementary, foster elementary, madison elementary, nativity school, norwood elementary, rio vista elementary, st. Ignatius school, and st. Sebastian school, west hollywood elementary. Etm-la employed 12-15 teaching artists and interns, 2 field supervisors, and 2 program coordinators. Etm-la provided ongoing mentoring and extensive training with monthly site observations and professional development for teaching artists and teachers. Working closely with each school principal, etm-la designed a music program that addresses each individual partner school's needs. Etm-la continues to build collaboration between teaching artists and academic teachers, to engage the parents and overall community, and to guide school leaders to create strategies for long-term programming and self-sustainability. Furthermore, etm-la partners with other arts organizations to further enhance and to bring more opportunities for students' musical learning, including afterschool enrichment and concert assemblies.
This wonderful organization is child, education and music focused. They believe in providing high quality training for their teachers and the benefits are evident in the quality of programs that they provide. I was able to observe an elementary music class and was impressed with the children's enthusiasm and pride in the music they were learning and performing.
This is such an amazing organization! The people that work there are incredible. They are passionate, dedicated, sincere and so appreciative of anyone and everyone's efforts to help ETM-LA. I have worked with many different organizations in my lifetime, but ETM-LA stands out as one of the best non-profit I have been fortunate to be involved. These great people and the inspiring work they do for our community and children for education in music is life changing for many.
