Covers All Elk Grove Unified School District Elementary Schools
The Sacramento Mandarins is proud to announce that we have entered into an agreement to support band programs at all 42 elementary schools in the Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) during the 2022 academic year. This marks a high level commitment to arts education in EGUSD, which is the largest school district in Northern California. This program is right in line with the Mandarins mission of “Transforming Lives Through Performing Arts.”
The Mandarins Music Academy began five years ago with 11 students at one elementary school in EGUSD. It has quickly expanded through the desire from parents and school administrators to provide instrumental and choir music education for their students. Prior to the COVID shutdown, the Mandarins was providing programs at 15 schools with over 250 students throughout the Sacramento Region. The anticipated enrollment for this district-wide program is over 1,100 students.
The Mandarins Music Academy has developed a unique music education system that includes Music Directors, Music Advisors, a standardized curriculum, a proprietary “MMA Karate Belt Band Method,” loaner Jupiter and Mapex instruments, and optional honor bands. It is through this system that we are able to provide music education to a large number of students in a consistent manner.
“At the Mandarins Music Academy, our aim has always been to ‘Give the Gift of Music to Kids.’ This is a dream come true to be able to make music a part of children’s lives at every elementary school. We have always believed in equitable access for music education. We can’t wait to get started!” stated Jim Tabuchi, Program Director and Founder of the Mandarins Music Academy.
Jennifer Wilbanks, Director of Visual and Performing Arts at EGUSD drove the initiative and states that “Arts education is an essential part of every student’s education. At EGUSD we believe that music education will enhance the students’ lives through developing creativity, improving cognitive skills, and creating social connections and a lifelong enjoyment of music.”
