Music Changing Lives Uses Arts to Reach Students with Additional Learning

One of the many reasons arts education is so important is that it can tap into students’ passion and keep them engaged with school, and open to other learning. Josiah Bruny was one of those students, and now he’s working with a younger generation at Moreno Valley and Vista del Lago high schools, using their passion for music and arts to help them maintain good grades, save money, and learn about setting and achieving goals through the Music Changing Lives (MCL) program. “It’s really about students learning to have faith in themselves as achievers,” Bruny explained. “Music Changing Lives offers them a chance to develop their artistic talents at school, but it requires academic responsibilities and self-discipline. Students have to keep their grades up, attend one hour of tutoring before each after-school session and complete a five-hour group volunteer project.” In celebration of their achievement, students from Vista del Lago and Moreno Valley high schools will display their art and take to the stage Saturday, May 17, from 4-7 p.m. at UC Riverside’s University Theatre, 900 University Ave., for the Changing Lives Showcase. Admission is free. Working with Moreno Valley and Vista del Lago high schools, Music Changing Lives supplements visual and performing arts offerings by turning classrooms into after-school music and art studios where students are able to practice their skills, and record and produce their music and occasionally entertain classmates with a lunchtime jam. In addition, MCL offers students a big incentive to save their money to help them reach their goals: For every thousand dollars a participating student saves, Music Changing Lives will provide a $4,000 match. “Conserving financial resources is crucial to staying on track toward goals,” Bruny said. Funding for MCL comes from a combination of sources, including federal Title I funds, sponsors, including Moreno Valley Unified School District, donors and earned income. Through MCL records, CEO Bruny sells his CDs and gives 60 percent of proceeds to the program; and three stores in Redlands (Ranch Market, Olive Avenue Market and Gerrards Market) currently carry Music Changing Lives bottled water called TISH (The Ignorance Stops Here), with 70 percent of the proceeds going back into the program. Students also get help from tutors with their other studies, and learn financial literacy from Wells Fargo Bank and HandsonBanking.org.