At the Center for Musical Arts, our teachers often say that music is just the vehicle. What really matters are the lessons in confidence, connection, and growth that happen along the way.
One faculty member, Becca Kronyak, who works with children as young as one year old through middle school, has seen this transformation unfold countless times.
In our First Steps in Music classes, toddlers arrive shy and hesitant, sometimes even silent. Parents, too, can feel uncertain about joining in. But over time, something shifts. “We had one little boy who sat in the corner week after week, barely looking up,” Becca recalls. “On the last day, he sang every word and danced every step. His parents were amazed—when it looks like nothing’s happening, so much is actually going on.”
These classes don’t just prepare kids for music; they prepare them for life by teaching them the value of sharing, socialization, and joy in community.
As students grow older, music lessons become a place for self-discovery. One child, drawn to the challenge, leapt from beginner pieces to Mozart. Another middle schooler, initially quiet and withdrawn, found confidence through learning an Olivia Rodrigo song and performing it onstage after only a few months of lessons.
Each of these stories reveals how music nurtures resilience, creativity, and courage.
The most profound lessons happen in the relationships between teacher and student. “If the relationship comes first, everything else is easier,” Becca explains. When kids feel safe to take risks, they discover their own voice — sometimes literally, sometimes through the notes on a page.
At the Center, music is more than a skill; it’s a pathway to confidence, community, and a sense of belonging.
Your Part in the Story
These life-changing moments are made possible by the generosity of people like you. When you give, you ensure that children in Boulder County and beyond have access to music performances, music lessons, caring teachers, and a community that supports and uplifts them. Together in harmony, we can continue to nurture confidence and connection—one note at a time.