Who We Are
UT Elementary School (UTES) is unique for our stand-alone Spanish, STEM and Orchestra classes. These classes have been prioritized because research shows that offering more frequent access to these special academic areas affords students a more holistic and connected academic experience. Every year, UTES must fundraise around $150,000 for these classes. Our Musical Lives program (Music/Orchestra) was created in partnership with Dr. Laurie Scott, The Texas String Project and UT’s Butler School of Music. Most elementary schools offer some music education, but UT Elementary is unique in that we have a full-time, on-site music teacher. Students at UTES begin learning to play the violin using the Suzuki Method in the 2nd grade in addition to the cello and music production in upper grades.
What We're Fundraising For
It is not common for an elementary school to provide real musical instruments to children and offer every single student the opportunity to learn how to play. It is even less common for a public Title I school whose student body is majority non-white and low-income to do so. Teaching children how to play a musical instrument has been proven by multiple research studies to have academic, social and cognitive benefits for each child and that is why UT Elementary is committed to this class, even though it is not fully funded by our state education funds. Your gift will help support UT Elementary’s Musical Lives program in a variety of ways. Keeping our musical instruments in working condition is expensive. Providing our students with access to technology to learn music production needs upgrades as technology improves. Most importantly, having a classroom teacher who is qualified and committed to providing our students with the best possible program.
Your Impact
UT Elementary School (UTES) is unique for our stand-alone Spanish, STEM and Orchestra classes. These classes have been prioritized because research shows that offering more frequent access to these special academic areas affords students a more holistic and connected academic experience. Every year, UTES must fundraise around $150,000 for these classes. Our Musical Lives program (Music/Orchestra) was created in partnership with Dr. Laurie Scott, The Texas String Project and UT’s Butler School of Music. Most elementary schools offer some music education, but UT Elementary is unique in that we have a full-time, on-site music teacher. Students at UTES begin learning to play the violin in the 2nd grade using the Suzuki Method in addition to the cello and music production in upper grades. Your gift to UT Elementary’s music program impacts the lives of hundreds of students. Your donation directly supports the costs of this program; from providing working instruments to the children to helping fund the salary for the full-time classroom teacher. UT Elementary is a Title I school, meaning that the majority of our students are from low-income households. Additionally, you are supporting undergraduate and graduate students from the University. Undergraduates who are earning their degrees in music education, visit our campus for the practicum hours they need. Graduate students and faculty perform their research in our classrooms leading to improved educational outcomes for our students and students across the world. 
