The Symphony Womens Association

 Why music?

Music can and does transform lives. TSWA has been successful in instilling the love of music in our served youth, as seen in some of our recent graduates who are following a music path (Juilliard, University of Pennsylvania, University of Arizona), our goal is to give underserved youth the same opportunities that their more affluent peers enjoy.  We are striving to change the paths of some of Tucson’s neediest youth by offering them high quality music instruction so that they can reap the proven benefits that music offers.  Those benefits include:

• improving their self-esteem,
• learning to work in (and often lead) teams,
• acquiring life- long learning skills,
• achieving improved scholastic performance,
• gains in mathematics and spatial-temporal relationships.

 

What we offer:

Through our Tune Up Tucson Youth Music Academy we give:

• children 3 to 18 years old opportunities they otherwise would not afford or enjoy; 
• to 215 children weekly half-hour individual and/or hour group lessons after-school throughout the school year, and we offer additional music workshops in the the summer;
• formal classes in piano, violin, marimba, guitar, clarinet, trumpet and percussion.  In  2013-14 chamber ensemble instruction will be added;
• recently added  programs included Songwriting/Composition for the older students, and Solfege/Kodaly that introduces the concepts of rhythm and music theory to  very young students;
• music lesson, loaner instruments at no cost to qualified students.  There is never any charge to the students or their families for these services.

 

How we are accomplishing this:

• four PhD candidates from the Univ. of Arizona were added to staff in 2013 as instructors and they have become a major asset in accommodating the growth in the number of our students;
• students are referred to us by their school principals and/or teachers as well as social service organizations;
• our high caliber teachers come from The University of Arizona,  the Tucson Symphony, Pima College and the Tucson Music Teachers Association.  They offer their services on a volunteer basis or at low cost;
• classes are held in the Music Educations Center in downtown Tucson at corner of S. Stone Av. & E. 15th St.;
• music stores are approached to loan us  (they often donate) instruments for the children to take home to practice;
• funds are generated by donations, fundraisers, small grants and from our two adjacent shops, the Treasure Shop (Antiques & Collectibles) and the Second Fiddle Thrift Shop;
• active parental participation is expected;
• parents support their children by encouraging practice at home and regular attendance at lessons;
• parents give back to the organization by lending a hand when needed. 

 

Our Plans

• High on our wish list is the renovation of the property housing our music education center;
• we want to be able to provide total access for the physically challenged;
• we would like to further sound proof the practice rooms and to create a larger space for ensemble rehearsals;
• envisioned for 2014-15 is the creation of an “El Sistema””style inner city orchestra, the ultimate music destination for underserved children.
• El Sistema is a tested model of how a music program in Venezuela can both create great musicians and dramatically change the life trajectory neediest kids.

 

Our Goals:

Our goals can be summed up by the simple phrase “keeping music alive in the desert” by offering the benefits of music education to our underserved youth as a path to an enriched and ultimately more prosperous life. 

 

 

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