Music – it’s why we’re here. We believe in music and its power to affect change, to broaden horizons, to break down cultural barriers and to unite people. For some people the importance of music is unmatched, but sadly, for others it is disposable.

As budget cuts continue to hit our schools, music and arts programs have been reduced, slashed, and in many cases completely eliminated. As fans of music and the arts, this is a disheartening trend, which is why we formed a partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education. Our goal was to support music education programs in our public schools so students will have fun, enriching experiences on paths they never knew existed.

We would like to thank our partners in the “About the Music” program, especially the San Diego County Office of Education, the Belly Up Tavern, the Miller Brewing Company, Scion, and most importantly, anyone who has come out to a show or event which supports the “About the Music” fund. Your continued patronage enables us to raise money and positively influence the students in our city with a more well-rounded learning experience

We would like to congratulate and recognize all of the dedicated teachers using these deserved funds to broaden the learning experiences of their students.

Name:Andrea Dee
School:Palmquist Elementary (Oceanside)
Grant Amount: $1,000
Plans for the Grant:

Palmquist Elementary recently had General Music cut from their curriculum. Ms. Dee has volunteered to to lead an After School music program to make sure students and parents know the arts are still important. This money will go to the refurbushment of old pitched instruments, as well as the purchase of mallets, small percussion instruments and other music-related supplies.
Name:Susan Stuber
School:Grapevine Elementary (Vista)
Grant Amount: $1,000
Plans for the Grant:
The funds will be used to purchase melodic instruments, three xylophones, which will help students learn pitch, compose melodies, learn improvisation skills and help meet California Music Standards.
Name:Ratko Filipovich
School:Heritage K-8 Charter School (Escondido)
Grant Amount: $1,000
Plans for the Grant:
The grant money will be used to purchase an acoustic guitar to assist with class singing time, various cymbals to complete the class drum set, as well as a CD player and iPod deck to further music appreciation among the students.
Name:Mary Ann Saponara
School:Ocean View Hills Elementary (San Diego)
Grant Amount: $500
Plans for the Grant:
The Grant money provided to Ocean View Hills, a culturally diverse learning institution, will be used to take four of the school's Service Groups (Peace Patrol, School Safety Patrol, Boys Flag Football and Girls Basketball) to two performances of the San Diego Opera. The groups will see Verdi's Aida and Bizet's The Pearl Fishers. The goal of taking students to these performances is to install a love for music and keep the passion for the arts alive to students at Ocean View Hills.
Name:Julie Yager
School:Carmel Valley Middle School (Carmel Valley)
Grant Amount: $300
Plans for the Grant:

Ms. Yager will use the Grant money to attend the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois in December. The conference will serve as an opportunity for Ms. Yager to learn new teaching techniques, hear new music and stay in touch with what her profession has to offer.
Name:Scott Kent
School:Marston Middle School (Clairemont)
Grant Amount: $995
Plans for the Grant:
Mr. Kent's Grant money will be used to purchase an electric piano and amplifier for his school jazz band. Currently, they have an upright piano, which is difficult to travel with. The electric piano will allow their pianist to perform where ever the rest of the group does.
Name:Dennis Mauricio
School:Hilltop High School (Chula Vista)
Grant Amount: $3,000
Plans for the Grant:

These funds will be used to compliment Mr. Mauricio's Music Technology lab with the purchase of a new iMac and projector. These additions to the Music Technology lab will aide in Mr. Mauricio's ability to develop highly engaging and interactive lessons, as well as allow students to create and present various projects in class. Most importantly, it will nearly eliminate the traditional time-consuming method of writing music notation on the chalkboard.
Name:Steve Lorentz
School:West Hills High School (Santee)
Grant Amount: $1,950
Plans for the Grant:
The Grant money provided to Mr. Lorentz will be used to purchase a Kurzweil Stage Piano and portable PA system. These will be two needed additions to West Hills High School's Guitar Ensemble, as the keyboard will aide in rehearsals, as well as aide in the composing and recording of original music. The PA will be a need amplifier to make performances more accessible to the public.
Name:Karen Childress- Evans
School:Department of Visual & Performing Arts (SD Unified School District)
Grant Amount: $2,500
Plans for the Grant:
This money will be used to support the Department of Visual & Performing Arts' "Keys to Achievement" Program by purchasing 20 mini-keyboards for use elementary school computer labs. Students will use innovative technology to learn musical concepts.
Name:Jeffrey Beck
School:Valley Center Elementary (Valley Center)
Grant Amount: $1,000
Plans for the Grant:

In a school which has no music facilities, Mr. Beck teaches seven bands comprised of over 250 students. These money will be used to convert two boarded up bathrooms in the school gymnasium, where he holds band rehearsals, in  fully functional practice spaces. The new practice spaces will allow for small sectional rehearsals, a drum/percussion rehearsal space, and could also be used for tutoring and performance tests.
Name:Kristy Smith
School:Linda Vista Elementary School (San Diego)
Grant Amount: $3,000
Plans for the Grant:
Ms. Smith's Grant money will be used to purchase new Apple Computers and keyboards. This new technology will allow Ms. Smith to facilitate the "Keys to Achievement" program with her students.
Name:Linda Mueller
School:Palomar High School (Chula Vista)
Grant Amount: $1,000
Plans for the Grant:

Presently, the guitar class at Palomar is limited to acoustic guitars. This Grant money will be used to purchase two electric guitars and an electric bass for shared use among the students in the guitar class. Their goal is to begin "Performance Fridays" where students can showcase what they've learned as well as motivate other students to participate in the school's music program.
Name:Jason Justeson
School:Lakeside Middle School (Lakeside)
Grant Amount: $1,000
Plans for the Grant:
Last year, with the help of Mr. Justeson, Lakeside Middle School began a school Jazz band. Mr. Justeson will use these funds to purchase books, music, recordings and videos to further develop the Jazz program and enhance students' learning of jazz improvisation.
Name:Christine Huffman
School:Casillas Elementary (Chula Vista)
Grant Amount: $813
Plans for the Grant:
As a kindergarten teacher, Ms. Huffman will use the Grant money to purchase percussion instruments for her classroom. She will give her students their first step in their engagement and participation in music programs through a strong foundation in the basics of music: rhythm and beat.
Name:Rick Wall
School:Kellogg Elementary School (Chula Vista)
Grant Amount: $1,000
Plans for the Grant:
With this Grant money, Kellogg Elementary will take giants steps in establishing a school music program for students K-6. The money will be used to purchase twelve tone-bar instruments (Xylophones, Metallophones and Glockenspiels) and will aide in establishing a fully functional music program by September. The music program will affect 455 students at Kellogg Elementary.
Name:Richard Almanza
School:Valhalla High School (El Cajon)
Grant Amount: $1,000
Plans for the Grant:
Mr. Almanza will use these funds to purchase and implement the Smart Music program into the classroom curriculum. Smart Music is an innovative program which assists in home practices, learning pitch and tune, developmental exercises and documenting individual progress.
Name:Shari Fernandez
School:Temple Heights Elementary (Oceanside)
Grant Amount: $1,000
Plans for the Grant:
Ms. Fernandez will use her funds to purchase xylophones and other melody instruments for her students. Use of these instruments will help her students meet California Music Standards as well as empower students' creativity and explore improvisation and composition.
Name:David Trevino
School:Chula Vista High School
Grant Amount: $1,000
Plans for the Grant:
Mr. Trevino would like to develop a choral workshop/clinic for his students with a well-known choral arranger. The workshop would culminate in an evening concert featuring previously prepared choral selections and the arrangements of the clinician.
Name:Joseph Sutera/Angela Panfili
School:Carlton Oaks (Santee)
Grant Amount: $500
Plans for the Grant:
The Grant money will be used to provide the four Third Grade classes of Carlton Oaks with a beneficial musical experience. The students will be able to participate in the Classics Philharmonic Orchestra's "Symphony Sleuths" program.
Name:Heidi Isom
School:Felicita Elementary (Escondido)
Grant Amount: $500
Plans for the Grant:
Ms. Isom and the second grade students at Felicita Elementary will use the Grant money to attend a fine arts performance at SDSU's School of Theatre. This experience will open many of the students' eyes to something new and exciting.
Name:Kim Read-Smith
School:San Pasqual Elementary (Escondido)
Grant Amount: $2,400
Plans for the Grant:
Ms. Read-Smith will use her Grant money to purchase a keyboard for her music classes. As a teacher who travels from classroom to classroom, it's important for a teacher to have a keyboard which is portable. The remainder of the Grant money will be used to purchase a light projector and gobos to enhance their musical performances.
Name:Kim Morgan
School:Lake Elementary (Oceanside)
Grant Amount: $3,000
Plans for the Grant:

Lake Elementary has adopted and purchased a new music curriculum for the current year. The programs for grades K-2 and grades 3-5 have digital pathways and components to them, which the elementary school was unable to afford. This Grant money will allow for the purchase of those technologies to maximize the new music curriculum of their students.
Name:Tom Gaines
School:High Tech High North County (San Marcos)
Grant Amount: $500
Plans for the Grant:
As a result of the Grant money all 140 students at High Tech High North County will be able to take a field trip to the Museum of Making Music, where students can get a "hands on" look at the history of music in America.
Name:Linda Thompson
School:Monte Vista High School (Spring Valley)
Grant Amount: $500
Plans for the Grant:
Ms. Thompson will use the Grant money to take Monte Vista's Symphonic Band, Cadet Band and Guitar Class to the Museum of Making Music. This field trip will allow 50 students to study the history of the band starting with John Philip Sousa and ending with guitars and synthesizers.
Name:Cici Groupe
School:Richland Elementary (San Marcos)
Grant Amount: $300
Plans for the Grant:
With the Grant money, Ms. Groupé will attend a Orff-Schulwerk Teacher Training seminar. The Orff-Schulwerk method of teaching is a well respected and believed in teaching model. As a second year teacher, this seminar will greatly benefit Ms. Groupé and her students.
Name:Greg Anderson
School:Carlsbad High School (Carlsbad)
Grant Amount: $3,000
Plans for the Grant:
Mr. Anderson would like to enhance Carlsbad High School's AP Music Theory program by creating a Music Theory Lab. This will allow for students to expand their aural, analytical and compositional skills through music software and keyboards. In addition, the raised understanding of music theory will enhance students performing in the band, orchestra and choral programs.
Name:Steve Guadarrama
School:Benchley Weinberger Elementary (San Diego)
Grant Amount: $3,000
Plans for the Grant:
Mr. Guadarrama, a fifth grade teacher, already uses music and its ability to engage students as an integral part of his teaching. With the Grant money, his students will be further exposed to music and its corresponding role in other areas of learning (mathematics, problem solving, etc). Plus, students will have the technology to create their own recordings, understand the physics of sound and much more.
   
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