The Afterschool Music Program
Our daily afterschool music program is completely free! All are welcome to apply but we prioritize enrollment for low-income families.
Available to students from Kindergarten - Grade 12
No prior music experience necessary
Program operates Monday to Friday from 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Students may choose a string instrument: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass
80% program attendance required
This program is completely free
We also offer Summer programs!
Click below to learn more.
Ale (Age 17), ESC Cellist
“Music has helped me in a lot of ways. It has helped me make new friends, meet new people and connect with them (...) I can’t see myself doing anything else but music! If music wasn’t in my life, I wouldn’t be who I am and it has helped me see who I am today as a person.”
ESC Parent
“Without El Sistema, my daughter wouldn’t have been able to attend violin lessons. To me, El Sistema provides a once-in-a-life opportunity to learn how to play an instrument at no cost. I wish I had come across their program in my childhood.”
Ensemble Classes
Ensemble instruction is at the heart of every El Sistema-inspired program. It’s more than just a way to teach music – it’s a transformative experience that fosters collaboration, discipline, and joy. Learning in an ensemble setting helps students develop essential life skills: active listening, teamwork, leadership, and resilience. It’s where young musicians experience the power of working toward a shared goal, navigating challenges together, and celebrating collective success.
At El Sistema Colorado, ensemble instruction is a cornerstone of our work, shaping not just musicians, but confident, compassionate individuals. In every rehearsal, students strengthen social-emotional skills through collaboration, develop a deep sense of community, and find a creative outlet that supports mental health and wellness. Music-making provides them with a space to express themselves, build resilience, and foster connections that extend far beyond the stage. Whether playing their first notes or preparing for a concert, our young musicians are growing into leaders—equipped with the skills to thrive both in music and in life.
Prelude
Twice weekly, 50 minutes
Kindergarten to 1st grade
1 year program
Explorers
Twice weekly, 50 minutes
1st to 2nd grade
1 year program
Allegro
Three days a week, 2 hours
Beginning Orchestra
Multi year program
Crescendo
Three days a week, 2 hours
Intermediate Orchestra
Multi year program
Cadenza
Three days a week, 2 hours
Advanced Orchestra
Multi year program
Chamber
Once a week, 1 hour
for Intermediate & Advanced in small student-led ensembles
For students learning a new instrument:
Jumpstart
Twice weekly, 2 hours
3rd to 5th grade
1 year program
*New to Instrument
Brio
Three days a week, 2 hours
6th to 12th grade
Multi year program
*New to Instrument
Suzuki-Inspired Masterclasses
Inspired by the masterclass model used in Suzuki institutes around the world, El Sistema Colorado offers bi-weekly masterclasses to our youngest students to address the need for more individualized attention on their instrument. In groups of 3 or 4, students participate in semi-private lessons with a Teaching Artist from our faculty. Parents attend every masterclass, observing, taking notes for home practice, and participating in their child’s lesson. Students leave each masterclass with a specific assignment to work on and return with to their next lesson.
ESC is excited to offer this opportunity to help our students succeed and for their families to become true partners in their musical learning. Parents have said this program empowers them to support their child’s learning by providing them with tools and ideas to work with them at home.
Masterclass sessions are offered multiple times throughout the school year. If your child is enrolled in group class at ESC, inquire about masterclasses with your Teaching Artist.
Private Lessons
El Sistema Colorado offers high-quality private lessons to current violin, viola, cello, and bass students, providing our young musicians with personalized instruction from highly trained professional music educators. With 20 lesson slots available each week, our program fosters not only technical excellence but also social-emotional growth, helping students build confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose through music. Committed to equity and access, we ensure that financial barriers do not prevent any child from receiving a transformative musical education.
Summer Programs
Summer Strings Club
June 23-June 27, 2025
El Sistema Colorado's Summer Strings Club day camp provides a 5-day experience for young musicians ages 6-11, focusing on fostering social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies alongside musical excellence. The program includes a blend of string technique and performance classes, ensemble rehearsals, and musical leadership activities to develop collaborative skills and nurture a sense of community. Additional activities such as outdoor play and painting classes encourage self-expression and creativity. The camp will culminate in a community concert and barbeque reception, hosted in partnership with the Curtis Park Neighbors Association, showcasing the students' achievements and strengthening ties within the local community.
Summer Strings Festival
July 20-July 27, 2025
The 2025 Summer Strings Festival (July 21–26) is a week-long opportunity for Colorado’s young musicians to grow as artists, leaders, and collaborators. With tracks for beginner, intermediate, and advanced orchestras, students will refine their skills through rehearsals, sectional classes, technique masterclasses, voice and music theory sessions, and leadership and wellness workshops. This year, we're thrilled to welcome conductor-in-residence Dr. Cheldon Williams (West Virginia University) and guest faculty from Centro Educativo Musical Tomza in Juarez, Mexico, offering a unique international learning experience. This festival will inspire and challenge young musicians while fostering cross-cultural connections.