Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Musically Minded Academy (“MMA”:) had three program areas: year-round weekly lessons with performances, camps and workshops, and professional concerts. Our weekly programs held approximately 70 students in regularly scheduled music lessons with monthly performance events. Students ranged from ages 4 to 78 taking lessons on guitar, piano, flute, voice, musical theater, composition, drum kit, and violin. Our frequent student performances were free and open to the public. Our annual musical theater summer camps featured themes like Star Wars, Black Panther, and Playwrights. Over 50% of students participated on scholarships provided by MMA and partially funded by local organizations and our own private fundraising efforts. MMA also has a scholarship program because our organization believes that all students should have access to high quality musical education. We offer scholarships and tuition aid to low-income or disadvantaged students. We have received funding for scholarships in the past, but for large groups. Lastly, we had a concert series in partnership with local non-profits featuring professional musicians that were recorded and broadcasted on local and national radio stations.

Due to the Executive Orders, MMA shifted our business model and operations to continue providing our programs and classes to support our mission of providing the greater Bay Area with the highest quality music instruction. MMA incurred additional costs to acquire new technology to facilitate the new virtual business model. MMA purchased new software and hardware which were unforeseen expenses in our forecasted budget.

Our newest program is Musically Minded’s Mentors Program which will serve 300 direct beneficiaries, of which 70% socioeconomically are disadvantaged, at Skyline High School and Claremont Middle School for the 2022-2023 school year. Our goal is to supplement underfunded and understaffed music programs and revitalize the community with music.