The Base Academy Of Music Story
A Non-Profit Music Organization in Kansas City
Base Academy of Music is non-profit music organization who makes starting to learn a musical instrument accessible and affordable for urban youth because we believe music education is a reason and means to succeed.
We teach the foundations of music to urban youth to help them see their inherent potential and succeed in school and beyond. Base Academy of Music began as a simple dream. Clint Velazquez, a private music instructor for over 10 years, began to imagine what it could look like to teach music closer to home in Kansas City, MO and impact the lives of youth living in the urban core.
Availability and accessibly to music programs and affordable private lessons in the area were limited. For many wanting to learn, getting started was the hardest part.
When you give to BAM, kids get to play!
Through music we can help Kansas City youth thrive!
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Impacting Lives In The Urban Core
Through the Power of Music
About BAM
Founded in 2012, BAM started by teaching small-group after school music classes. “Again and again, the feedback we got from families was that they want music lessons,” Velazquez says. “They wanted that one-on-one connection, that intentional type of relationship.”
In 2016, BAM made a pivotal shift, ending group instruction to focus efforts on private instruction. From teaching 30 group lesson students and 10 private lessons weekly, BAM’s enrollment soon shot up to 75 students. Today, BAM has over 200 students and counting, with over 60% of the student body qualifying for federal free and reduced lunch.
Looking forward, Velazquez says BAM is focused on continuing to cultivate a supportive community for students and parents alike, support their needs and create more opportunities for students to perform to put their growing skill sets on display.
“I don’t want BAM to have a waiting list,” Velazquez says. “When a kid wants to learn how to play, when a kid wants to take that next step, when someone is needing to benefit from what music can bring, I want us to be able to provide that for them.”
Consider making a tax-deductible donation today to support accessible music education in Kansas City.
Continuing Music Education in Kansas City
In August of 2016, BAM began to focus almost exclusively on the private lesson program after witnessing great student outcomes there and sensing further potential. That program demonstrated success, demand and relevance to families as it grew from 25 to 75 students over the coarse of the 2016-17 school year.
This confirmed our strong belief that individual music instruction is important to development in children and the private lesson program is relevant to the community.
