WE ENVISION A MUSICAL COMMUNITY OF CHILDREN
OUR MISSION
The E N Bates Music Enrichment Program’s mission is to provide piano lessons, using the group piano lab format for children/teens, ages 5-17 years, regardless of payment capability.
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ARTS EDUCATION
There are numerous benefits in participating in classroom piano lessons, for example, providing fascination and desire to promoting cognitive growth and the capacity for empathy. Additionally, childhood participation in the arts is closely linked to adult participation, which suggests that children exposed to the arts will become the future audience members who can guarantee the vibrancy of the arts for the years to come.
THE PROBLEM
In many disadvantaged urban areas, children and teens lack access to the kinds of rich and ongoing experiences with the arts that are available to young people from higher income communities, both in school and outside of the classroom because of the lack of public funding. Schools have been relying more on private funds and patrons of the arts to provide creative outlets for students. There has also been a growing trend on nonprofit arts organizations setting aside more funding for arts education and outreach to local schools.
OUR GOAL
The E N Bates Music Enrichment Program will invest musically in our children by:
Showcasing their training in piano recitals
Providing community music-related events to raise awareness for music education
Engaging in systematic fundraising activities for a long-term, high-quality music program
Collaborating with other organizations that share the vision of cultural development in our communities.
The initiatives listed are examples of the climate that we want to create - where students can be serious about studying music, while engaging their communities in the arts.