Music Collaboration Initiative Marks Three Decades of Success
In the heart of Los Angeles, the Music Partnership Program at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is making a significant impact on the lives of underserved K-12 students. This initiative, part of UCLA ArtsBridge, connects university-trained musicians and artists with local public school classrooms for residencies and original educational programs.
Over the past three decades, the program has grown from a priority set by the UCLA Department of Music Performance, Education, and Composition in 1994, to a thriving community engagement program that now extends to two partner sites: the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood and the UCLA Community School RFK.
John Hollywood, a teacher in the Music Partnership Program at the Hollywood Boys & Girls Club, recently made headlines when he helped his student Mateo compose and perform his first original composition at the annual recital. Mateo, who initially seemed uninterested in the method book they were using, was transcribed "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars for the recital, and his performance left Hollywood and his colleagues in awe. One of Hollywood's colleagues was moved to tears by Mateo's performance.
The Music Partnership Program provides high-quality music instruction to students who might not otherwise have such opportunities. UCLA students make weekly classroom visits to partner schools, designing a music education experience for students, many of whom have never had music instruction before. They provide private lessons for students in various instruments such as percussion, harp, flute, piano, and guitar, often providing the instruments for students to use.
The program's annual recital showcases young students' newfound musical skills for their family and friends, often leading to their first-ever musical performance in front of a live audience. This experience can be transformative, fostering confidence and a love for music in these students.
The program is supported entirely through philanthropy, including significant support from the Herb Alpert Foundation. Rona Sebastian, president of the Herb Alpert Foundation, sees the partnership program as vital for Los Angeles, providing experiential benefits to UCLA music students and an encouraging environment for K-12 students to learn from college-level musicians.
Jon Robertson, music director of the UCLA Symphony, was appointed chair of the department in 1993 and was personally invested in advancing the power of arts among inner-city youths. He partnered with the band director at Washington Prep High School in South Central Los Angeles to provide serious musical training to students.
The cuts to arts education in public schools over the past two decades have been severe. The Music Partnership Program is filling this gap, expanding access to music education and cultural experiences, nurturing artistic skills, and fostering creative expression among underserved youth in the Los Angeles area. This support helps to build a musical legacy beyond traditional classroom settings and enriches the educational landscape for students facing economic or social barriers.
The Music Partnership Program at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is a testament to the power of collaboration and the transformative impact that arts education can have on young lives. Through its ongoing efforts, the program is helping to create a brighter future for Los Angeles's youth.
- The Music Partnership Program, through its connection with UCLA ArtsBridge, fosters personal growth and education-and-self-development in underserved K-12 students by providing them with high-quality music instruction, nurturing artistic skills, and encouraging creative expression, ultimately preparing them for entertainment, including performing music.
- By utilising the Music Partnership Program, students gain experiences beyond traditional classroom settings, developing a love for music and enhancing their confidence, which contributes significantly to their overall personal-growth and learning, setting the foundation for a prosperous future.
