LAMusArt’s Tuition-Free Music Ensemble Program

K-12 STEAM education

East LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The arts constitute a vital core education requirement, yet access has been historically under-resourced in our region. The Healthy Places Index scores of the areas we serve are well below LA County's average (15.8% compared to the County's 48.2%), and none of the policy action areas score above 50% in the Education and Social categories. In East LA, over 95% of the population is Hispanic/Latino, 27% is under 18 years of age, 17% is experiencing poverty, and 92% are without a Bachelor’s degree or higher (based on persons aged 25 years or older). Of the families we serve, 60% come from low to moderate-income households, making under $55,000 per home, and over 40% of students we serve report that their schools do not offer arts programming. Our program was created in 2008 to advance our year-round music offerings for elementary, middle, and high school musicians who lost arts education resources when funding throughout the LA Unified School District was slashed by over 50%.

The program is composed of 7 ensembles: Choir (ages 7+, secular music, vocal technique and singing in a group), Youth Orchestra (ages 14+, highlighting orchestra pedagogy/performance), Jazz Ensemble (ages 14+, a pre-professional group practicing Latin jazz styles and improv), Mariachi(s) (ages 7+, exploring the importance of learning & playing Mexican folk music, a cultural cornerstone in our community), String Ensemble(s) (ages 7+, centering on violin and viola), Composition Fellowship (ages 16+, a music composition course for advanced young musicians) and Guitar Ensemble (ages 7+, focused on guitar playing in a group) - all of which offer students the valuable experience of collaborative musicianship through culturally specific repertoire and fundamental technique. Ensembles are free for students, and free instrument loans are available for those in need. The program provides weekly music education to approximately 120 students per month, year-round, and offers 1-2 hours of rehearsal/instruction per week per ensemble. As we enter our 80th year in operation, we’re uniquely positioned to tackle the inequities our constituents face. We understand the identity of our neighborhoods, and we address community needs without displacing or diluting the vibrancy of their culture. Our programming strikes a balance between the complex and historic elements of Western/Eurocentric arts learning and the cultural significance of traditional Latinx/Hispanic art forms.

We aim to diversify East LA’s creative landscape and provide equitable opportunities for our young community to experience success through the arts. LA's Arts Equity Index found in 2016 that 60% of schools were lacking arts education. While Prop 28 has passed, program development in schools has a long way to go. Our program has and will continue to fill these gaps by providing free and buildable learning. With expansive arts instruction along with opportunities to produce and present, our program isn't just a cross-section of diversity and inclusion among students and teachers but a convergence of artistic, technical, and practical experiences that translate to viable tools for a well-rounded life. The artistic vision that drives the program is an arts ecosystem that's inclusive and equitable and is designed to replenish productive alternatives for our youth to develop themselves holistically and close the opportunity gaps in our under-invested community.