The Music Partnership Program (MPP) at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music has served hundreds of students during its two-decade existence. After a recent hiatus during the pandemic, the program is back in full force.
The MPP matches attendees with School of Music students who provide introductory instruction in voice, piano, guitar, percussion, wind, and brass instruments. School of Music students apply to become fellows in the MPP program. Fellows earn scholarships and teach group and individual lessons to develop young students’ technical proficiency and musicality.
I feel really happy with my student’s success this year. I can see how learning a new skill has instilled a sense of confidence in them that will apply to all aspects of life beyond the practice room. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to teach such kind, curious, smart, and passionate children–my lessons were the highlight of my week.
– Evie Wigdale, UCLA Fellow in MPP Program
UCLA has three partnership sites: The Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood, UCLA Community School RFK, and Horace Mann UCLA Community School. While the pandemic disrupted music instruction everywhere, including with UCLA’s partner sites, 2022-23 marked a strong return. In all, 11 UCLA fellows taught 70 students this year.
The Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood provides a number of vital afterschool services for youth, including programs in literacy and computing, as well as meals for students, many of whom deal with food insecurity. The Music Partnership Program allows the club to provide a valuable enrichment program for afterschool youth.
Music allows our students to explore their creativity. Our partnership with the UCLA Music Partnership Program continues to impact the lives of our students as they discover their musical interest, expression, and talents. We are extremely grateful to our donors and supporters!
– Mel Culpepper, CEO of The Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood.
UCLA Community Schools aim to instill in their students the passion and drive that will make them successful students both in and beyond school. MPP Fellows bring dynamic instruction to excite students about music and give them the tools to pursue it as lifelong learners.
It is important to me to share my knowledge and love for music with others. Working with the other teachers this year in the Music Partnership Program has been inspirational, and has helped me understand how to alter my ways of teaching.
– Ginger Rose Brucker, UCLA Fellow in MPP Program
Music lessons in the program culminate in an end-of-year recital where students showcase their new skills. At the Hollywood Boys & Girls Club, friends and family packed the room to hear new students perform on flute, guitar, piano, and voice.
My goal for my students this quarter was to prepare them for their first ever live music recital. Up to this point, students have been studying the flute for only 10 weeks, so it was very important that I set my students up for success from the first week of the spring quarter. I made sure students were aware that there was an upcoming recital from the start, and that they were to start thinking about what pieces they wanted to play. Every week, I played them many different songs and they would listen and choose what they liked the best. I was so pleased that my students were all very excited about the recital, and they worked hard in each lesson to cover as much material as possible, even putting aside their own outside time to practice. The recital was a huge success, and my students overcame their nerves to put on a great performance.
– Brendan Lockie, UCLA Fellow in the MPP Program
