Jiya has been a volunteer with ETM-LA since 2022, and has assisted with events and communications project both in person and remotely. 

Tell us about yourself.

I’m Jiya, a youth communications volunteer with ETM-LA, and a first-year undergraduate studying music industry at UCLA. I’m a jazz singer, classical pianist, and all-around music enthusiast (I spend countless hours exploring Spotify, curating hundreds of playlists). You’re likely to find me stargazing, laughing over Garfield comics, or hiking during the waking hours of the day (…sometimes). I’m also an older sister who loves sharing my passion for music with my little siblings. I dream of being an entertainment attorney, entrepreneur, and changemaker working towards a more inclusive music industry – one that fully welcomes and amplifies the voices of global musicians. As a step towards this goal, I founded the platform ‘Tracks By Women’, where I work to spotlight the incredible achievements of female-identifying musicians and industry professionals worldwide!

How have you benefited from music? How has music changed your life?

I’m so grateful to have grown up immersed in music and engaged in music education programs. These experiences have fostered incredible connections and communities in my life.

I’ve found these incredible communities through creating music with others, whether that be through spontaneously joining a group caroling in Singapore, learning a cappella with 200 musicians from around the world, or even just sitting in the corner of my school choir class, harmonizing with my peers. I’ve left every one of these experiences with strong bonds and a new family of talented, supportive musicians. I now carry this love for community into all of my life endeavors. Be it in bustling school hallways or tucked away record stores, I thoroughly enjoy connecting with new people. This even drives my leadership positions – where I work to create community with all the people I work with through arranging group bonding activities and constantly cheering on all of my peers.

Why do you volunteer at Education Through Music-Los Angeles (ETM-LA)?

I vividly remember my second-grade self performing in a school musical. My two-year-old little sister sat in the audience, captivated by the performance and wanting to perform as well. Inspired by her enthusiasm, I began writing us musical adaptations of practically every Disney movie, always including her in the creative process. I found joy in watching her grow and discover her strengths through our musicals. ETM-LA consistently brings me this same joy; I’m able to help students’ confidence and abilities blossom through the art form I love. Witnessing how musical involvement affects ETM-LA’s students motivates and inspires me to help expand music accessibility in my own professional journey!

Volunteering with ETM-LA provides me with unique opportunities to gain hands-on experiences, share all my ideas, and even help lead publicity and media projects that I’ve never attempted before. I’m so excited to utilize this range of these skills I’ve learned from ETM-LA to launch my own initiative one day that provides aspiring musicians with affordable resources.

Can you share any key moments while volunteering with ETM-LA?

During my first volunteer session at the ETM-LA office, we packed gift bags for students performing at our Annual Festival. We sat around cardboard boxes filled to the brim with t-shirts and CDs, packing goodies for the young artists. We then ate lunch together, and I got the opportunity to meet the other volunteers and staff. We spent the afternoon enjoying each other’s company, sharing our experiences and aspirations both within music and beyond. By the end of one short session, I had gained countless amounts of insights from the volunteers around me and inspiration from their passions in music education. I also knew that I had a family and support system here at ETM-LA.

I helped carry out a communications project, where we curated student testimonials for ETM-LA. I got to read numerous essays from students across LA, and I was moved by their stories. Though each student had such unique experiences, there was a recurring idea that music education gave them a sense of belonging and community, which I deeply resonated with as a music student myself.

Why do you believe in-school music education for ALL children is important?

I believe music education provides a unique and supportive environment, where students are always encouraged to share their voices and express their creative ideas. All children deserve access to this space – one that treasures their individual voices and helps build their confidence within a support system of teachers and peers.

Music classes are incredibly important to the personal growth of all children. They create spaces for students to broaden their own worldviews by being introduced to diverse cultures and styles of music. Students are also encouraged to expand their perspectives through constant musical collaboration. I believe this open-minded, inclusive mindset fostered through music education is vital as children grow and engage with the world around them.