LOS ANGELES, CA – In August 2025, our devoted music teaching faculty and local educators came together for Education Through Music-LA’s intensive week-long Summer Academy. With over 60 participants, both teachers and staff were thrilled to reunite, work together, and begin preparations for the upcoming school year!
Led by ETM-LA’s program staff, the Summer Academy featured workshops designed to equip educators with vital skills, allowing them to thoughtfully develop strategies to enrich their musical classrooms. Participants explored over 45 sessions ranging a multitude of fundamental topics, such as Special Needs Strategies, Jazz in the General Music Room, Introduction to Teaching Orff Ensemble, Modern Band Approach for the General Music Classroom, The Kodály Approach to Teaching Songs, Teaching Music Tech for Beginners, Classroom Readiness for Hispanic Heritage Month, Conducting Basics for Band & Orchestra, and many more. Music teachers of all levels experienced sessions tailored to their needs and interests, ensuring everyone the opportunity to grow and advance their skills for the new year.
The Summer Academy launched ETM-LA’s 20th year of programming, celebrating the remarkable growth and impact of our mission. In this record-breaking year, ETM-LA welcomed a total of 16 new music teachers and music teacher interns, further expanding our reach to students and communities across LA County.
A beginning ETM-LA Music Teacher shared, “It can be really scary going into your first year of teaching, just by yourself, in a school when you’re the only music teacher. So this was really nice, because before I even start I get to have this week of meeting all these people who are my resources, so I don’t have to jump into it alone.” Another new teacher mentioned, “The most important thing I’m going to keep with me this school year is to always be prepared and also know how to be flexible and how to improve… to always keep learning!”
Instructional Supervisor Arvi Lapuz reflected, “I have been on both sides of the Academy as teacher and admin, and the sessions, especially this year, really catered to where our teachers are at skill-wise. As presenters, we considered every comment, need, concern, and feedback from last year. The team really tried to resolve some of those points and wanted to help the teachers focus on high-quality teaching. The value in all of this is for the teacher to find community in each other and know they are all each other’s resources.”
ETM-LA can’t wait to see how this hard work and vital practice will be implemented throughout the 2025-2026 school year!
ETM-LA believes the voices of our students and communities deserve to be amplified and empowered. Therefore, Cultural Equity and Inclusion (CEI), Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT), and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) remain essential and constant in our ongoing practices and training. Learn more about our training opportunities by signing up for our newsletter.
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Contact: Katie Moskovciak
Phone: (818) 433-7600
Email: press@etmla.org
Website: www.etmla.org
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Education Through Music-Los Angeles is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to provide and promote music in under-resourced schools as part of the core curriculum for every child in order to enhance students’ academic achievement, creativity, and overall development.
For more information: www.etmla.org