Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen
Donate
Podcasts Take Two
In jazz-loving Culver City, music instruction starts in kindergarten
solid orange rectangular banner
()
Take Two Logo
Nov 19, 2013
Listen • 4:20
In jazz-loving Culver City, music instruction starts in kindergarten
Culver City Unified has been refining its arts plan for a decade. Now, the district even offers specialized music instruction to its kindergarteners.
Kindergarteners make an "L" with their left hands to remind them which leg is left during a jazz dance at El Rincon Elementary School on Nov. 7.
Kindergarteners make an "L" with their left hands to remind them which leg is left during a jazz dance at El Rincon Elementary School on Nov. 7.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Teaching artist Kerri Glickman teaches music vocabulary on Nov. 7 to a kindergarten class. Glickman teaches symphonic jazz orchestra at El Rincon Elementary School in Culver City.
Teaching artist Kerri Glickman teaches music vocabulary on Nov. 7 to a kindergarten class. Glickman teaches symphonic jazz orchestra at El Rincon Elementary School in Culver City.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
A student takes part in a jazz dance during a music class taught by Kerri Glickman at El Rincon Elementary School.
A student takes part in a jazz dance during a music class taught by Kerri Glickman at El Rincon Elementary School.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Kindergarteners at El Rincon Elementary School are learning to read music.
Kindergarteners at El Rincon Elementary School are learning to read music.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Kindergarten students at El Rincon Elementary School in Culver City clap a rhythm written on the board during a music class on Nov. 7. By the third grade, students will chose which instrument they want to learn.
Kindergarten students at El Rincon Elementary School in Culver City clap a rhythm written on the board during a music class on Nov. 7. By the third grade, students will chose which instrument they want to learn.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Kindergarteners make an "L" with their left hands to remind them which leg is left during a jazz dance at El Rincon Elementary School on Nov. 7.
Kindergarteners make an "L" with their left hands to remind them which leg is left during a jazz dance at El Rincon Elementary School on Nov. 7.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Kindergarteners jump in unison during a jazz dance at El Rincon Elementary School on Nov. 7.
Kindergarteners jump in unison during a jazz dance at El Rincon Elementary School on Nov. 7.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

Culver City Unified has been refining its arts plan for a decade. Now, the district even offers specialized music instruction to its kindergarteners.

Culver City is known as a hub for jazz in the U.S., drawing top acts from around the country. Among them, musician and composer Stanley Clarke, and Bebop great Phil Woods.

In this town, KPCC's Mary Plummer says the love of jazz starts young. Really young.