“Donations to our fiscally sponsored projects allow them to respond to critical needs in our community. Thanks to the support of many donors, Community Initiatives serves inspired leaders as they build new programs to benefit us all.”

M. Melanie Beene
PRESIDENT AND CEO
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

Enriching Lives through Music

Enriching Lives through Music (ELM) is a community based after-school, weekend, and summer music program whose mission is to make high quality music education available to children who have a passion for music but lack exposure and access to instruments and teachers.  All children start on the soprano recorder through which they learn ear training, music theory, and music-reading skills.  After students demonstrate competence on the recorder, they are offered opportunities to transition to other instruments.  Most of the children are English Language learners.  All students are on partial to full scholarship. No child is turned away because of lack of funds.

ELM's mission is to make high quality music education available to children who have a passion for music but lack exposure and access to instruments and teachers.  ELM identifies children in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael who have a talent and passion for music and supports their music education through classes, scholarships, and mentorship.  ELM envisions a center of musical excellence in which all children are able to explore and achieve their musical potential without financial or other barriers and where classical music and other music traditions are shared and celebrated.

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