Students with a passion for music at Boulder’s Columbine Elementary school have the option of free after-school music lessons in instruments ranging from cello to flute to guitar.
Two music teachers, Elisa Snyder and Mari Madeira, founded Muse in 2015, offering free music classes at Columbine that fall after raising $6,000 through a crowdfunding campaign.
“Every child deserves to study music,” Snyder said.
The program is based on a free music class initiative started in Venezuela called El Sistema. Snyder said the goal is to provide music education to students whose families otherwise couldn’t afford pricey lessons and instruments.
At Columbine, 34 second- to fifth-graders participate in the classes, held for two hours twice a week. Classes include recess and snacks.
The non-profit organization expanded to University Hill Elementary two years ago, serving 30 third- to fifth-graders, and is hoping to start classes at Casey Middle School in the fall.
Most of the funding comes from local foundations, including the Boulder Arts Commission, the Boulder County Arts Alliance and the Boulder Community Foundation.
Many of Muse’s instruments — plus repair work — are donated, while some are purchased. Along with playing them in class, students can earn the responsibility of taking instruments home to practice.
Columbine second-graders start with recorders, giving them a foundation that includes tempo and rhythm. After second grade, their options include flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, guitar, violin and cello.
“It’s all about not only teaching them instruments, but learning how to work together and play music together,” Madeira said.
All the students also come together after the instrument lessons for choir, with about half the songs sung in Spanish.
Choir director and guitar teacher Miguel Soldevila, a native of Puerto Rico, said he teaches the students songs from a variety of cultures.
“Music can bring people together with one language,” he said.
Fifth-grader Sammy Brantz, who plays clarinet, said she signed up because “I really, really like music.”
“It’s really fun to be with all your friends, and you get way better at playing and can play any song you want,” she said.
Fifth-grader Stephanie Ordaz said she fell in love with the guitar after receiving one as a gift at age 3.
“It’s been my passion for a long time,” she said.
Before starting Muse lessons at Columbine, she said, “I just kind of messed around.”
Along with being fun, she added, learning to play an instrument “makes you think more.”
Amy Bounds: 303-473-1341, boundsa@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/boundsa
