Young Musicians at Longfellow Elementary

Since 2002, PCM has provided free Young Musicians classes to a public school in our neighborhood that otherwise would lack access to a comprehensive music education. The curriculum is the same that we provide to our YM families on campus, which is designed to nurture developmental growth in a musically rich environment, combining movement, listening, singing, touching (playing instruments), and play.

For nearly twenty years, PCM provided classes to students at Jefferson Elementary, introducing them to various styles of music including classical, folk, jazz, and world music. In 2020, when the school consolidated with Longfellow Elementary, the YM program followed and the first year of music instruction (2020–21) was provided entirely online.

Longfellow teacher Tyara Brooks shared that “at a time of uncertainty and instability, music class became the lifeline to keeping my students engaged and connected to learning…. Classes became the medicine students needed to find their voice and spark creativity.” In 2021–22, YM classes were provided to all 565 students at Longfellow Elementary in person for the first time ever. Says Brooks, “Students developed skills needed to persevere and be successful in life. They learned to listen to each other, work as a team, and encourage each other through the process.”

In addition to the more than 1,000 music classes taught by YM faculty at Longfellow last year, students recorded and presented two virtual concerts on the school district’s YouTube page. These videos have received more than 4,500 views.

YM at Longfellow Elementary is a fully funded program supported by the California Arts Council, the City of Pasadena’s Cultural Affairs Division, RBC Foundation – USA, The Augustine Foundation, The Music Man Foundation, and the Helen and Will Webster Foundation.