The M.U.S.I.C. Foundation’s pilot music education program was successfully launched in September, 2006 at NEW Academy Canoga Park, a two-year-old charter elementary school located in the San Fernando Valley next door to Tierra del Sol, a low income housing facility that is a joint partnership between the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and NEW Economics Council for Women.
The Music Unlocks Success In Children (M.U.S.I.C.) Foundation is a non-profit organization formed to return music education to Los Angeles elementary schools. It is modeled after a prototype program already effectively supporting student learning and self esteem in 15 schools in New York.
“Extensive current research confirms that teaching music as a discipline helps students achieve better academically in all areas--especially in reading, reasoning and math,” according to Kjrste Hillig, lead teacher of the program.
The program is unique in that, unlike a typical symphony early-education program which focuses on performance, the M.U.S.I.C. Foundation’s program uses music to improve all areas of students’ academic abilities. The instructors, who are professional musicians, are already serving all of NEW Academy’s kindergarten through 2nd graders.
Music education has become part of the core school curriculum and will be integrated with the standards-based curriculum goals of each grade level served. Further, core classroom teachers will be trained in how to use music in their classrooms to enhance overall learning.
The M.U.S.I.C. curriculum integrates the children’s use of multiple sensory learning channels to work toward success. The program acts as a leveling tool; all the students enter with no prior musical experience and have an equal opportunity to succeed. And succeed they do.
“The sequenced skills and processes taught underwrite reading, mathematics and both concrete and abstract reasoning, in addition to increasing students’ self esteem,” added Ms. Hillig.
During the 45 minute, weekly music class, the kids’ excitement is unmistakable as seen in their enthusiasm to participate and their eagerness to follow directions.
The program is scheduled to expand to include all 3rd through 5th graders, as funding becomes available.
For information about The M.U.S.I.C. Foundation call 818.705.1754.
