As a premier performing arts center, the Music Center has built its educational programs around the unique role and expertise of the professional artist. The power and impact of our work comes from the interaction of outstanding artists with students, teachers, and family audiences. Accordingly, the Music Center invests substantial resources in the identification, training and ongoing support of these performers and teaching artists.

Music Center staff work with artists to develop specific content and approaches that will be most effective in an educational context. The artists selected for the Music Center roster are widely recognized as leaders in the field and are sought out by other arts presenters and arts education organizations around the United States.

Music Center educational programs are guided by the following principles:

• The arts are taught and assessed as core school subjects for all students, supported by written curricula based on the California Visual and Performing Arts content standards.
• Regular engagement with professional artists is an essential aspect of quality arts education because such artists inspire students and teachers with models of artistic excellence and demonstrate the power of expressing a unique point of view or perspective.
• Arts programs combine the highest level of artistic excellence with the most effective strategies for teaching and learning.
• Quality arts education is provided through a team approach, with arts specialists, classroom teachers, parents and artists and staff from community arts resources working in alignment.
• Arts specialists, classroom teachers, and teaching artists receive in-depth and sustained training, resources, support and recognition which honors their respective roles in providing quality arts education.
• Students engage with significant works of art from many cultures, because the arts are one of our most effective means to understand and appreciate current and past cultures from around the world.
• Excellence in arts education - whether student work, teacher leadership, or school-wide achievements -- is showcased and highlighted in order to underscore the importance of arts education for all.
• Effective partnerships and collaborations are essential to leverage our resources in support of our common goals.
• Students, families, and educators benefit from participating in live arts experiences at the Music Center, other outstanding and diverse arts and cultural resources throughout our community, and at home.
• School Districts and individual schools develop the necessary capacity and invest their budget resources to provide quality arts education for all students.