A Special Holiday Campaign

Hi, I'm Denise and I believe that one of the greatest gifts we can give children is an education that sets them on a brilliant path. Years ago, under-served public schools across the U.S. started eliminating music and art classes for children. Those were my favorite classes in school!

I've recently become Board Chair of an amazing non-profit, Education Through Music Colorado. Our vision is to empower every child in Colorado to reach their highest potential in the classroom and life through music education.

The ETM music education model was launched in NYC (30 yrs ago) and LA (15 yrs ago). We've taught over 300,000 students during that time. Our own experience and national research proves the positive benefits of music education:

1. Directly benefits reading, writing and math skills
2. Boosts social and emotional capacities
3. Develops teamwork, listening, and reflexes
4. Improves academic achievement
5. Increases parental and community engagement

I hope you'll join me in raising $1,000 to fund music classes - teachers' salaries, instruments and curriculum - for four students in Colorado's under-served public schools in 2024. 

A teacher’s word of encouragement, learning to play an instrument, perform with their classmates in front of parents…an education that includes music helps children thrive. The littlest donation you make this month…will make the biggest difference next year. 

Thank you and happy holidays!

Who is ETM-Colorado?

Education Through Music-Colorado (www.etmcolorado.org) partners with under-resourced public schools to provide music as a core subject for all children. Founded in 2018, ETM-CO offers music classes to more than 2,000 students. They work only with Title I schools in low-income neighborhoods where the free and reduced lunch student program population is greater than 82%.

This organization belongs to a national nonprofit network that began operating over 30 years ago in New York, and then expanded to Los Angeles, Boston and Denver. Since its foundation, more than 300,000 students have learned about music, and through it, how to express themselves.

According to the ETM-CO 2021 Efficiency Index , for every dollar received, 91 cents go towards the educational program.

Why music education is so important?

The downsizing of school budgets too often results in the elimination of music programs, despite its proven importance in children's growth. Our thirty years of work and research show that MUSIC: enhances reading, writing, and math skills; boosts social and emotional capacities; develops teamwork, listening, and reflexes; improves academic achievement; increases parental and community engagement; fosters a multicultural environment. 

87% of teachers agree that music increases school engagement. 83% of children say that music classes make them like school more (Source: ETM Los Angeles Impact Study 2021).

A life-changing story

Jose is a changed name, but his story is true. He was a very guarded child: one of those who kept to himself in classes and during lunch at school. Unsure of his talent and skills, he had trouble connecting with others and engaging in school. He was tentative about expressing himself but one day music came to his school. He started to sing and dance. First by keeping his eyes closed and then opening them little by little. Jose's music class was a safe space for him to find his voice and happiness. He explored a more vulnerable space and experienced joy and a complete transformation as a student not just in music, but in all areas. Jose's principal relayed this story to our team at ETM-CO and thanked us because Jose is now engaged and happy to be in school.