Music Team

Music Team's mission is:

•  To deeply engage under-served children in a multi-year program of music study and performance.

•  To build a positive community for children, families and schools through music.

•  To help children develop the habits of mind they need to succeed in school and in life. 

We provide free access to classical music learning and performance - and the many benefits that accrue from such learning - to 130 under-served children in San Mateo County, 78% of whom qualify for the federal free and reduced meal program. All at no cost to their families. 

Started 5 years ago by Seth Mausner, a violist with a long successful career with the San Francisco Symphony, and Jerry Pannone, former Orchestra Director from San Francisco's School of the Arts, we provide comprehensive after-school music education and community performances to the lowest income neighborhood of Daly City.  

As well as making remarkable musical progress (see the video above), our students have shown increased math and reading test scores compared to a control group of their peers not involved in music education, as well as improved self esteem, group behavior and sense of community.

Music Team is inspired by El Sistema, Venezuela’s intensive music education system, which over the past thirty-five years has transformed the lives of over one million children. We have adapted the ideas of El Sistema to work at our site, Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Daly City where:

•  78% of the children qualify for the federal free and reduced meal program.

•  The population is 65% Hispanic and 20% Filipino, with many English language learners.

•  Few other extracurricular activities are accessible to the kids we serve and very little music instruction was provided.

Music Team provides the following to the children - all at no cost to their families or the school:

 •  5 hours of instruction per week for each student.

 •  Classes in violin, cello, chorus, percussion - other instruments will be added soon.

 •  A commitment to work with the same children from 2nd grade until they graduate from high school, as well as adding new kids each year.

Key to the success of our students is ensemble learning and regular performance, primarily with our Music Team Orchestra. Beyond music education, our program of intensive training and performances develops concentration, mastery, teamwork and leadership skills in the children. 

With very low overhead, 80% of the Music Team budget pays for dedicated music teachers and instruments for our children.  We make good use of volunteers, and our cost per child is now about $1,000 per year.  

The response to our program from kids, parents, principal, school teachers and visitors has been overwhelmingly positive. We currently serve 130 children but are expanding and ready to make excellent use of any and all resources to grow.

 

Thank you for supporting us!