Five years ago, there were no music programs at any campuses in the Anaheim Elementary School District.
Today, all 23 campuses have instrumental programs, with 12 recently having received $40,000 in grants to help buy instruments and other gear for students to grow an appreciation of music.
Music education returned to the school district thanks to the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, a nonprofit that works with community organizations to support music in schools, particularly in those that serve high rates of low-income students.
The foundation and the school district recently released a mini documentary to show how the return of music education is having an impact on students.
The district was forced to cut music during the recession. With the help of the VH1 foundation and other community partners, the district’s schools now offer music as part of the schools’ regular curriculum. District leaders and foundation officials said they are working to restore music to all campuses in the coming years.
“It should not matter where kids go to school to determine whether they have access to music education,” Jaclyn Rudderow, program director for VH1 Save the Music.