Education Through Music-Colorado

📣 Too many schools in Colorado have lost their music teachers — gone in the quiet aftermath of budget cuts.

And with them went the tambourines, the ukuleles, and the laughter. For children from marginalized communities, this silence only deepens the gap.

At Education Through Music–Colorado, we begin where it matters most — with the teacher. We place extraordinary music educators in the schools with the greatest need, equip classrooms with instruments and inspiration, and offer students a joyful journey of confidence, creativity, and belonging.

When you help bring music back, you give children more than melodies — you give them the courage to find their voice, the focus to learn, and the confidence to shine.

🧑‍🏫 Because when a teacher returns, the whole school begins to sing again.

🏫 At Dora Moore — Denver’s oldest public school — music came back to life after years of silence, sparking an extraordinary transformation.

Through ETM-CO’s partnership, all 349 students, from preschool through 8th grade, now receive weekly, high-quality music instruction led by a dedicated ETM-CO educator. Located in Denver’s historic Capitol Hill neighborhood, Dora Moore serves a diverse student body where over 70% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Since the program began, the change has been unmistakable. Students walk into class with new confidence, collaboration has deepened across grade levels, and families are showing up — cheering, clapping, and reconnecting with their school community through concerts and performances.

🌟 Music hasn’t just filled the hallways again — it’s reshaped the spirit of the entire school.

📥 CAMPAIGN TOOLKIT

Download our toolkit with images, videos, sample messages, and everything you need to help spread the campaign.

🎵 Education Through Music (ETM) partners with under-resourced schools to make music a core part of every child’s education.

It has grown into one of the nation’s leading nonprofit providers of comprehensive, in-school music programs—reaching more than 300,000 students nationwide since its founding over 30 years ago.

In 2018, we launched ETM-Colorado, the fastest-growing affiliate in the network. Today, we bring high-quality music education to students from preschool through eighth grade in the Denver metro area, focusing on Title I schools.

🚌 Program Reach

• 40,000 students reached annually nationwide
• 3,000 students across 10 schools in Colorado
• 76% of students face economic marginalization

🏆 Research Outcomes

• 95% of students gained self-confidence
• 98% improved math achievement
• 94% of families felt more welcome at school

🌱 Mission Sustainability

We partner with school leadership until the music teacher becomes a permanent member of staff, allowing us to reinvest resources in the many schools still waiting for music to return.

According to Education Through Music–Colorado’s most recent financial statement (FY 2023–2024), 87% of total expenses were dedicated to program services—well above national averages and widely recognized nonprofit best-practice standards.

🎯 Our $50,000 goal will ensure that hundreds of students in an under-resourced school experience the magic of music for an entire year — no one left out.