At the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood, Carolina Pineda, an
11-year-old fifth-grader at Grant Elementary School, pines for a
future career in singing. Daniel Cruz, a 9-year-old fourth-grader
at Vine Street Elementary School, simply hopes for a chance to
learn how to play “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” on
the piano.
The Music Partnership Program, which was introduced in 1995, has
been sending UCLA music students into under-served inner-city
communities to impart music training to students at elementary,
middle and high schools. Instruction in strings, woodwinds, brass,
percussion, voice and keyboard are currently offered at five
partnership sites in South Central Los Angeles, East Los Angeles,
Compton and the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood, as after-school
programs.
John Nunez, a first year musical arts graduate student majoring
in bassoon, not only teaches, but also serves as the site director
at the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood.
“What UCLA is doing through the Music Partnership Program
is providing musical opportunities for young people who would
otherwise not have any exposure because the club cannot pay for
this kind of musical instruction and this many hours as what
they’re getting here,” Nunez said. “Through the
Partnership Program’s funding and resources, this club here
in Hollywood gets to effect many people.”
Music students at Nunez’s club are generally receptive and
eager to receive lessons. Every piano and keyboard is occupied even
during break periods.
“I’ve met so many wonderful young kids who are just
so interested in learning and seeing a piano ““ many of them
don’t have pianos at home,” Nunez said. “Some
students have the talent you can really develop. On the other hand,
some just want the experience, and they move at a slower pace.
However, just to have the opportunity to study is something that
really opens up their minds and connects them to music in
general.”
Music Outreach Director Annissa Lui, who came aboard in July,
agrees that inner-city students are often deprived of a chance to
develop their creative talents.
“They can’t afford private lessons,” Lui said.
“The program gives them a source of creative outlet and keeps
them off the streets. I think it’s a model
program.”
While grade school kids are training to be musicians, college
music students are training to be future music teachers. Aside from
community outreach, the program provides a stepping-stone for UCLA
music students who are striving for careers in teaching, such as
third-year musical arts graduate piano student, Axel Schmitt .
“A part of my scholarship at UCLA is to come here and
teach three hours a week,” Schmitt said. “It’s
very fun actually because it’s my first experience teaching
young children and beginners. It’s a very good opportunity
for them to get music lessons with different kinds of instruments
or sing in the choir. For me, it’s a good teaching
experience.”
The teachers are chosen based on desire and teaching experience.
Upon completing an academic year of instruction, they receive up to
$2,000 in payment. According to Lui, plans are underway to continue
the program during the summer.