Department of Cultural Affairs

Cultural Grant Program | Public Art Division | Music LA Program | Home

To find out more about Music LA, please contact:
Angelica Loa Perez
Music LA Program Manager
Tel: 213.202.5561
angelica.loa.perez@lacity.org

To find out how to become a Music LA sponsor, please contact:
Will Caperton y Montoya
Director of Marketing and Development
Tel: 213.202.5538
will.caperton@lacity.org

DOWNLOADS:

Music LA Summer 2009 Program (1.64 MB)

Music LA Program Brochure (5.7MB)

Music LA Summer 2008 Program Poster (5.8 MB)

Music LA Summer 2008 Program (3.1MB)

Music LA Model

2008/09 FORMS:

Registration Form

Student Attendance Sheet

Administrator Evaluation Form

Teaching Artist Evaluation Form

Student Evaluation Form

Closing Document Checklist

2009/10 FORMS:

Registration Form

Student Attendance Sheet

Administrator Evaluation Form

Teaching Artist Evaluation Form

Student Evaluation Form

Closing Document Checklist

ARCHIVES:

Music LA Summer 2006 Program (1.3MB)

Music LA Summer 2007 Program (1 MB)

Music LA 2008 Request for Proposal (0.88 MB)

Please click here to view the DCA Music LA African American Heritage Month Classes.

Please click here to view the DCA Music LA American Indian Heritage Month Final Concert Invitation.

Please click here to view the Target Music LA Northridge Sessions.

Please click here to view the 2008/09 Music LA Heritage Month Program.

Please click here to view the DCA Music LA American Indian Heritage Month Classes.

Music LA

is a music education program that coordinates resources to provide quality music instruction for young people throughout the City of Los Angeles, and a groundbreaking partnership between local government, music providers, and parents.

gives children and teens a summer full of music training in a challenging and creative environment where learning, focus, and discipline are cultivated.

provides professional music education programming in areas of the City where few or no music education programs exist.

creates points of access between young people, creative communities, and local government to support musicians and arts organizations as music education providers.

Goals

• To provide a rich array of intensive courses in music education for the diverse families of Los Angeles, developing the talent and vibrancy found in abundance throughout the City;
• To give young people an opportunity to participate in quality music instruction and performance, regardless of economic status;
• To support sequential music training that correlates with the Visual and Performing Arts Standards adopted by the State of California and the Los Angeles Unified School District;
• To develop a local task force of music education experts among our partner organizations to drive
important policy changes in music education.

Instruction

The City of Los Angeles has one of the largest and most diverse populations of any municipality anywhere in the world. It is home to the second-largest population of people living outside of their native countries. As such, the Music LA course offerings and curriculum are based on Ethnomusicological principles, embracing Western and non-Western musical genres equally. The curriculum offered at each Music LA program site is as unique and diverse as the local communities they serve. This nurtures a cross-fertilization of musicianship, local talent, and audiences to create a more spohisticated and rich musical palette reflective of the people that make up Los Angeles.

The diverse Music LA programs expose students to various musical genres including:

• Afro-Cuban
• Choral Singing
• Contemporary Pop
• Classical and Chamber Orchestra
• Early Childhood Music Readiness
• Hip Hop
• Indigenous Mexican Drumming
• Jazz
• Mariachi
• Musical Theater
• Son Jarocho
• Taiko Drumming

While each Music LA program curriculum is unique, all incorporate elements of basic music theory, oral tradition, and practice, including instrument and/or vocal musicianship and performance training. All students’ musical abilities are encouraged by offering four levels of instruction including: Early Childhood, Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, and Demonstration.

In addition to instrumental and vocal music instruction, some Music LA programs also train students in original composition, sound recording, and production. At the culmination of each program, students participate in public recitals which provide them with precious performance experience.

Class Levels

The comprehensive Music LA program offers four different levels of music instruction, with every site incorporating a rich curriculum of basic music theory, instrumental and/or vocal musicianship, and performance training.

Early Childhood
level classes explore music readiness, creative movement, and the development of listening skills targeted to children aged two through five. Parental involvement at this level is expected and encouraged.

Beginning
level classes initiate students’ music education with a focus on basic music literacy including: melody, harmony, rhythm, music notation, instrumentation,
improvisation, performance skills, and the history of various musical genres.

Intermediate
level classes strengthen students’ aptitude in music theory and their abilities as instrumentalists and/or vocalists, both as soloists and as members of an ensemble.

Advanced
level classes develop the performance skills of proficient music students.

Demonstration Sites
Developmental psychology indicates that prolonged experience with music and the other related arts builds
confidence, improves communication skills, and fosters creativity. With this cognitive information in mind, DCA structured Music LA to include Demonstration program sites that offer a complement of multidisciplinary arts classes in music at various levels as well as classes in dance, theater, and the visual arts.

Testimonials

“I had a fantastic time teaching this session with Music LA. Getting the opportunity to work with the students both privately and in groups is the kind of experience that really makes you grow as a music teacher. The real treat was getting to witness my students’ final performance. They really did some amazing work, seeing their creativity and their final product musically really makes it all worth while.”
Scott Cummings
Teaching Artist
Heart of Los Angeles Youth

“Thank you! I enjoyed learning something new other than sports.”
Music LA Student
Tulsa Elementary School
Age 6

“Music LA is a wonderful program which gives students from low-income families the opportunity to learn music through culture, storytelling, and historical accounts …The spirit of Music LA is reflected through the students and their dedication, commitment, and passion for learning and sharing knowledge in a creative, artistic setting. Thanks to the Department of Cultural Affairs we were again
able to provide students with affordable music lessons and the opportunity to learn the music and art of their culture or other cultures.”
Karina Ceja
Site Coordinator
Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural