program Description

Bergmann Program

Elemental Music is honored to work with the Santa Monica Education Foundation to provide free music lessons for qualifying students in SMMUSD.

 These 18 thirty-minute private (one-on-one) lessons are funded by the Santa Monica Education Foundation's Peggy Bergmann Arts Endowment Fund. The lessons give qualifying students an opportunity to excel in SMMUSD's nationally recognized music program. We proudly work with approximately 90 qualifying students ranging from 4th through 12th grades.

Elemental Music has secured additional funding which allows many students to receive longer lessons and continue their lessons as part of Encore, our program which extends free private lessons for students through the remainder of the calendar year (including summer months). We are proud to provide personalized instruction and continued support for students who are ambitious, engaged, and who love music.

as part of encore, OUR students...

• receive lessons throughout the summer and fall months to continue support throughout the whole year

• may be eligible to receive longer lessons as students advance (45 or 60 minutes), even as part of the Bergmann Program

• study with our expert teachers, many of whom are currently, or have worked for, the SMMUSD in different capacities. Some of our teachers also teach for universities,  colleges and private schools in the area, perform in southern California ensembles, and even record for film and TV!

• receive language support with our Spanish translation liaison

• may be eligible to receive music supplies free of charge to support their studies, such things as sheet music, metronomes, and more

• have performance opportunities including free public recitals for family and friends

• receive free concert tickets to performances by our community partners, including the Broad Stage and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

• are eligible to receive substantial scholarships to participate in Elemental Music ensemble programs

Many of our students continue working with the same teacher for many years, creating a strong relationship that is built on trust. Graduates from our Encore program have even gone on to study music in college!

Funding for the 2024–2025 season of Encore comes from individual donors as well as foundations, the Rose Hills Foundation and We Are Santa Monica Fund.

Encore Student Recitals - Saturday November 9, 2024

We are pleased to offer our Encore students the opportunity to perform for family and friends in these free recitals made possible by additional funding.