SLAM! Program Los Angeles, a project of Community Partners, is a nonprofit, school-based program whose mission is to provide students from underserved schools with accessible, contemporary and tuition-free music instruction. Their program is delivered through a network of volunteer college students, creating opportunities for mentorship and professional development through a shared experience of music. The SLAM! program offers a variety of classes at each partnering school, including Piano, Guitar, Percussion, Voice, Music Production, Songwriting, and Rock Band. Eligible partner schools are recognized Title I middle and high schools serving at least 60% economically disadvantaged students, as evidenced by the percent of students eligible for a Free and Reduced Price Lunch.
SLAM! mobilizes college student musicians to teach after school music classes in local underserved middle and high schools. We provide a robust professional development program for our volunteers and work closely with each school partner to offer weekly on-site music classes including Piano, Guitar, Percussion, Voice, and Rock Band. Our weekly program is managed by our regional program staff who oversee three to five 90-minute classes, each facilitated by a volunteer Lead and Assistant Instructor who work closely with up to ten students. The SLAM! curriculum, created by our senior leadership team and informed by the learning objectives set forth by California’s state standards, is a powerful yet flexible tool that allows students and instructors to explore their interests and expand their horizons across all musical skill levels. SLAM! prepares all students for their Final Showcase, which is held at each partner school at the end of each program session period.
SLAM! classes meet once per week throughout three 8-weeks sessions for Quarter Schedule partnered schools (October-June each school year) and two 12-week sessions for Semester Schedule partnered schools (September-May each school year).
Eligible partner schools are recognized Title I schools serving at least 60% economically disadvantaged students, as evidenced by the percent of students eligible for a Free and Reduced Price Lunch, a proxy indicator of poverty.
Each school year there are two formal intake deadlines for all interested SLAM! school partners, both new and returning. School administrators are welcome to submit a School Partner Intake Form at any time prior to either deadline though SLAM! gives proposals submitted by April 30th a higher priority over proposals submitted by June 30th.