Backman Elementary

601 North 1500 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84116

“The U Piano Outreach Program is the only opportunity for our students to have piano lessons.” – Dallin Miller, assistant principal

The Piano Outreach Program has taught students at Backman Elementary School since 2010. At Backman Elementary, 90% of students' families live below the federal poverty level, 85% of student body comes from ethnically or racially diverse backgrounds, and 65% of student body are English language learners.

---

Graduate Instructors

• Ke An
  Doctoral Candidate, Piano Performance

Class Times

• Beginner Class 1 Wednesday 2:45/Friday 1:10
• Beginner Class 2 Wednesday 3:30/Friday 1:55
• Beginner Class 3 Wednesday 4:15/Friday 2:40

---

"The U Piano Outreach Program offers a unique opportunity to our students that they will cherish throughout their lives." — Dahlia Cordova, Principal

The U Piano Outreach Program moved to Backman elementary school in 2010, and has since served 36 students annually, with each student receiving classes four days per week. This year, thanks to the generosity of The McCarthey Family Foundation, we have welcomed an additional graduate teaching instructor into the classroom and are pleased to announce that we will be reaching close to 50 students this year!

Parents sign their children up to participate on a first come, first served basis, starting at back-to-school night. At Backman Elementary, 90% of students' families live below the federal poverty level, 85% of student body comes from ethnically or racially diverse backgrounds, and 65% of student body are English language learners.

At the end of the semester, program participants perform their recital pieces for their families and the entire school, as well as being invited to the University of Utah to play in a special Piano Outreach Christmas Concert in Thompson Chamber Hall. In May, outstanding students from each school are invited to participate in the Piano Outreach Ensemble in the Piano Area Monster Concert.

Thank you to our wonderful supporters, The McCarthey Family Foundation. 

 

Washington Elementary

420 North 200 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84103

"As both the principal and a parent of a student in the program, I am grateful for the many benefits the Piano Outreach Program provides our students.” – John Z. Kelly, principal

Thanks to generous support from the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, Washington Elementary’s Piano Outreach Program site was started in 2011. At Washington Elementary, more than 40% of students’ families live below the federal poverty level, 55% of student body comes from ethnically or racially diverse backgrounds, and 29% of student body are English language learners.

---

Graduate Instructors

• Rui Chen
  Doctoral Candidate, Piano Performance

Class TImes

• Beginner Class 1 Tuesday 2:45/Thursday 2:45
• Beginner Class 2 Tuesday 3:30/Thursday 3:30
• Returning Class   Tuesday 4:15/Thursday 4:15

---

“The Piano Outreach Program gives our students a first glance at seeing themselves as belonging on a university campus and bound for higher education.” — Rebecca Pittam, Principal

Thanks to generous support from the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Washington Piano Outreach site was started in 2011 and continues to thrive every day. Furthermore, we are grateful to the McCarthey Family Foundation for awarding one of our bright and dedicated instructors the McCarthey Family Foundation Teaching Assistantship. The kind support of these two families has allowed for the expansion of the Washington Piano Lab, increasing the number of children taught last year from 40 to nearly 65 children this year, and with hopes to grow even more by January 2015! 

Students apply at the start of the school year to participate and are selected based on age, (preference is given to older students), behavior, school attendance history, motivation level and admittance of siblings in the program. At Washington Elementary, more than 40% of students’ families live below the federal poverty level, 55% of student body comes from ethnically or racially diverse backgrounds, and 29% of student body are English language learners. Even in our piano lab, %30 of our students commute from the Road Home Homeless Shelter.

At the end of the semester, program participants perform their recital pieces for their families and the entire school, as well as being invited to the University of Utah to play in a special Piano Outreach Christmas Concert in Thompson Chamber Hall. In May, outstanding students from each school are invited to participate in the Piano Outreach Ensemble in the Piano Area Monster Concert. 

Thank you to our wonderful supporters, The Sorenson Legacy Foundation and The McCarthey Family Foundation.

Bennion Elementary

429 South 800 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84102

“The U Piano Outreach Program offers a unique opportunity to our students that they will cherish throughout their lives.” – Dahlia Cordova, principal

One of our newer sites, the Piano Outreach Program has taught students at Bennion Elementary since 2015. According to its Principal, Dahlia Cordova, students who participate make significant gains in reading scores and show improvement in truancy and safe school violations.

Graduate Instructors

• Qi Su
  Doctoral Candidate, Piano Performance

Class Times

• Beginner Class 1 Tuesday 2:45/Friday 1:10
• Beginner Class 2  Tuesday 3:30/Friday 1:55
• Returning Class Tuesday 4:15/Friday 2:40

 

Escalante Elementary

Majestic Elementary