On April 22, 13 brave Meet the Music students volunteered to take the stage at the Grand Annex Music Hall in downtown San Pedro for a public performance. Under the direction of Sukari Reid-Glenn; Education Manager, Lupe Montiel; Education Program Coordinator and Teaching Artist Nicholas Miller, the students performed selections from the repertoire they had learned in weekly lessons throughout the year alongside peers from several schools.
Performing live for an audience on a stage for the first time can be frightening, but also extremely rewarding. Taking positive risks like this helps students build confidence as well as teamwork and creative skills. Fifth grader Ivy told us that, “I feel like I’m a part of something now,” and her mom, Jess, said that her daughter “loves every hour playing her instrument,” and that learning songs has taught her to be more patient.
This year, Grand Vision’s Meet the Music (MTM) program is serving over 1,300 students in 12 schools with its weekly music education courses: Recorders in Schools, Roots of Music Program (RoMP), Strings in Schools, Keys of Inspiration and the Percussion Program. Each week, students learn music fundamentals, new songs and performance skills with trained Grand Vision teaching artists. As the school year draws to a close, students are preparing for 15 in-school recitals by choosing material, practicing songs and polishing their stagecraft and public speaking skills.
We are so proud of the work our MTM students have put in to gain new musical skills and confidence through their recitals! Many of them will keep building on their musical foundation in middle school and beyond. We love to hear from our MTM alumni who go on to form bands with their friends or even pursue music careers. Thank you to the MTM staff, teaching artists, classroom teachers, school administrators and Grand Vision supporters who have worked together to make this year’s MTM program a success!
Grand Vision Foundation’s Meet the Music is supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), LA County Department of Arts and Culture, the California Arts Council, Crail-Johnson Foundation, the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, City of LA Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn representing the Fourth District, The Rose Hills Foundation, the Norris Foundation, U.S. Bank Foundation
